North Vancouver, West Vancouver- Sunshine Coast

Michael Becker

Newsroom Editer mbecker@usnews.com

IN 34 days North Shore voters will be casting their votes to send two MPs to Ottawa.

After months of specula- tion, one of the worst kept secrets in the country became official: — Prime Minister Jean) Chretien announced on Sunday that federal election day will be Nov.

27.

Chretien’s governing Liberal Party has called the election just 3% years into its mandate. The Liberals had until the end of 2001 to take Canadians tw the polls.

Beginning with today’s coverage — cach News edition leading up to the election will provide readers with a comprehensive overview of the issues and politicians competing to serve as Member of Parliament in the pve North Shore ridings — North Vancouver and West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast.

West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast

The West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast riding can be summed up in two words: big and diverse.

The riding is large at 18,156 sq. km and contains a ulation of 116,383 (based on 1996 census data) people that reside within its boundaries. The riding has 212 polling divi- sions. The estimated number of voters for this election: 75,152, according to Elections Canada.

The voter breakdown for the riding is, roughly, 40% in West Vancouver, 20% in Powell River, 20% in Whistler and 20% in ‘the Sunshine Coast. The 1997 federal election marked the first time since 1979 that West Vancouver residents did not comprise the majority of votes in the riding.

Voters sent John Reynolds as a Member of Parliament to Ottawa. Incumbent Herb Grubel, of the Reform Party, chose not to seek a second term as an MP in 1997. .

Elections Canada results for the 1997 federal elec- tion: John Reynolds, Reform Party of Canada earned 20,092 votes (40.05%); Liberal Phil Boname took 17,318 (34.52%); Clark Banks, New Democratic Party received 5,988 votes (11.94%); Dave Thomas, Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, got 4,194 votes (8.36%); Lisa Barrett, The Green Party of Canada, earned 2,318 votes (4.62%); David Grayson, Natural Law Party of Canada picked up 254 votes (0.51%).

The 1997 election saw a 66.8% voter turnout in

Bill Galway North Vancouver

Katharine Hamer News Reporter khamer@usnews.com

OUT on the street in North Vancouver Monday, most passersby were indifferent

- to the news of an impending federal elec-

tion.

= “TY don’t-pay any attention to politics,” was a common response to the question, “What do you think of the election being called?”

“Those who had an opinion were skeptical about

Hilde Ragnzs Tim Rutledge

North Vancouver

West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast.

At the dime, Reynolds’ previous political stints included a four-year stay in Oztawa as a Conservative MP and a nine-year visit to the legislature in Victoria. His career as an MLA ended with his defeat at the hands ef current provincial Liberal. MLA Jeremy Dalton in 1991, but Reynolds voluntarily left his fed- eral seat in 1977 saying “it’s extremely tough” to cover one’s expenses on an MP's salary.

Twenty three years later Reynolds is once again competing to continue his parliamentary duties. North Vancouv-r

The federal nding of North Vancouver is home to 122,713 people. The riding’s area is 442 sq. km. There are 217 polling divisions in the riding. The estimated number of electors this time out: 77,004.

In 1997 the riding saw a voter turnout of 71.83%.

Ted White, Reform Party of Canada carned 27,075 votes (48.86%); Warren Kinsella, Liberal Party of Canada, received 18,806 votes (33.94%); Martin Stuible, New Democratic Party, found 5,075 votes (9.16%); Dennis Prouse, Progressive

West Vancouver

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s motivation — and declared themselves ready for a change in govern- ment:

@ Brian Dill, North Vancouver: “1 think Chretien is an opportunist. He obviously thinks he can win, or he wouldn't have called it now. He called it before the Alliance picked up steam. I think it will backfire. Lhope it does.” :

@ Bill Galway, North Vancouver: “1 think Chrétien is an opportunist. He called it early because he’s afraid Stockwell Day would beat him if he complet-

ed his mandate. He’s taken the opportunity to win

Sue Hastings West Vancouver

Wednesday, October 25. 2000 — North Shore News - 3

n for North Shore riding

= pe ee

NEWS photo Mike Wakelicid

OPEN for business: West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast MLA John Reynolds at his new campaign office in Ambleside. Reynolds is seeking a second term of office in Ottawa.

Conservative Party of Canada, won 2,740 votes (4.95%); Peggy Stortz, the Green Party of Canada collected 982 votes (1.77%); Dallas Collis, indepen- dent, attracted 365 votes (0.66%); Warne Mulherin, Canadian Action Party, took 203 votes (0.37%); Ken Chawkin, Natural Law Party of Canada found 162 votes (0.29%).

Prior to the election call Sunday the Liberals heid 161 seats in the 301-member House of Commons. It won 155 seats in the 1997 vote. The party had picked up six more in by-elections since then.

Under Canada’s electoral system, the party with the most seats in the House of Commons forms the government. Should it win fewer than 50% of the seats, it must find coalition partners to form a major-

it. 392

Your views and opinions regarding this election are what matter most to us. Reach us via phone: 985- 2131; ¢-mail: <mbecker@nsnews. coms; or fax: 985- 2104.

Brian Dill North Vancouver

Election disgruntlement on the street

now and get a new mandate.”

@ Hilde Ragnars, North Vancouver: “1 don’t think it should be called. It’s too carly. There's lots of man- date lett.”

@ Tim Rutledge, West Vancouver: “I haven't really read up on people’s concerns about it being too soon, The timing seems fine to me.”.

@ Sue Hastings, West Vancouver: “1 don’t like it so early. They've just elected the other heads --- they

don’t get a chance to get an established viewpoint on’

anything. I don’t like Chretien. T think he's a bully. He pushes us around and we Jisten.” ;

Politica! hopefuis step up

THE status of some of the players in the North Shore federal ridings to press time Tuesday:

Canadian Alliance:

@ John Reynolds, West Vaneouver-Sunshine Coast; M Ted White, North Vancouver.

Liberal Party of Canada:

@ Phil Boname, Par Camozzi and Tan McKay are compet- ing for the West Vancouver- Sunshine Coast Liberal can- didacy. The winner will be chosen on Friday, Oct. 27.

@ Bill Bell was acclaimed Sunday as the candidate for the North Vancouver riding. Progressive Conservative Party of Canada:- @ Kate Manvell, West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast; @ to press time Tuesday the party had yet to determine a candidate for the North Vancouver riding.

New Democratic Party:

@ North Vancouver New Democrats hold a nomina- tion meeting on Thursday to choose a candidate for the Nov. 27 federal election.

Sam Schechter, 19, is seeking the nomination. Other potential candidates for the NDP in the riding had until noon today to step forward.

B® West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast New Democrats hold a nomination meeting on Sunday, Oct. 29.

Canadian Action Party

@ Diana Jewell, North Vancouver.

BW Marc Bombois, West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast.

Nomination papers of those seeking to compete in the two North Shore federal tidings must be submitted to the riding returning officer by 2 p.m., Nov. 6.

— Michael Becker and Britta Bacchus

Fundraiser postponed

MARGARET Trudeau, and her son, Justin, were scheduled to. appear at the Capilano Golf and Country Club on Oct. 26.

However, due to the untimely death of the former Canadian ‘prime minister, : Pierre Trudeau, the fundrais- er has been postponed until a later date, which will be announced in January of 2001.

The fundraiser was origi- nally planned to raise aware- ness about avalanche safety,’ and to honour . Michel Trudeau, who died in an avalanche in “November 1998. The Kokance Glacier Alpine Campaign wants to pay tribute to Michel by building a new cabin in his memory, The campaign is also: focusing on back-coun- try. safety education and avalanche awareness. |).

“We're hoping this cam- paign will raise + awareness

Without . discouraging: them

from experiencing: nature,” says”.Mark Sager; /a\ West

Vancouver solicitor and ‘one

of the event’s organizers.