All-Candidates Forum draws crowds for Peace River North riding

FORT ST. JOHN B.C. – Residents packed the chairs of the Lido Theatre for the All-Candidates Forum on the evening of October 9th to hear from the political candidates running in the Peace River North riding.

Incumbent and Independent candidate Dan Davies and Conservative Candidate Jordan Kealy took the stage to answer questions about their policies and political intentions if elected during the 2024 Provincial General Election.

Moderator Curtis Whitford of the Fort St. John Petroleum Association guided the candidates through several questions on topics ranging from healthcare and the economy, to specifics on infrastructure plans and each candidate’s ability to advocate for Peace River North residents. 

Both candidates described themselves as conservative in their opening remarks, with Davies explaining his politics as ‘ideologically conservative,’ and Kealy stating himself as the candidate for the Conservative Party of BC. 

Both candidates expressed similar answers to many of the questions, including approaches to healthcare, affordability, and economic development.

Davies and Kealy both spoke about the importance of accountability for health authorities moving forward and the need to pave the way for internationally trained healthcare workers to easily transition to working in Canada in the medical field. 

Davies spoke about ‘cutting the waste’ in health authorities and returning to community health boards. 

“We need to bring back that responsibility and give voice to local communities so that they can have a voice in our health authorities,” Davies said. 

Kealy focused his answer on similar topics, calling the health authorities ‘bloated’ with ‘red tape and bureaucracy.’

“We need to focus on our front-line healthcare workers, and bolstering those healthcare workers,” Kealy said.  

When asked about specific intentions for infrastructure in the Peace River North region, Davies focused his answer on the Taylor Bridge. 

“It’s pretty sad that it’s got to the point where there’s more welding rod in that bridge than there probably is original metal,” he said. 

He highlighted his efforts in advocating for the project with the provincial government and his intentions to improve the entire stretch of infrastructure surrounding the Alaska Highway through Taylor. 

Davies emphasized the importance of experienced leadership when pressuring the government to take action on infrastructure projects. 

“I will not stop fighting until I see shovels in the ground, and I think we can do that by 2026.”

Kealy, meanwhile, focused his answer instead on the Conservative Party’s intentions for infrastructure throughout the province, using examples such as the party’s commitment to a new bridge across the Okanagan Lake and rebuilding the Red Bridge in Kamloops. 

“We need to work on our infrastructure across the whole province. With Site C coming to a wrap, we need to put people back to work, and our infrastructure is a great thing to be able to make that happen,” Kealy said. 

In his rebuttal, Davies stated that the Taylor Bridge was ‘pretty low in a list of long bridges’ on the Conservative’s list of intended projects and commitments. 

In response, Kealy corrected Davies, stating that the Taylor Bridge was ‘number one on the list’ when party leader John Rustad came to the Peace River region. 

The Conservative Party’s infrastructure platform, released on October 3rd, includes replacing the Taylor Bridge in its list of key projects, in the second spot. 

The candidates differed in their responses when asked about Indigenous relations and what specific actions they would take to address historical injustices.

Kealy touched on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), stating that those pieces of legislation do not work for Northeast B.C. 

“The framework wasn’t made for our areas, the way that our resource sector is, and I believe that it can be done in a better way,” Kealy said. 

Davies, meanwhile, described the documents as being useful for guiding decisions and should be a part of the road towards reconciliation. He emphasized the need to build and maintain local and regional relationships so that everyone can progress and thrive.

When questioned on his ability to be an effective elected official as an Independent, Davies spoke about the legislative changes that have occurred to give independent politicians more weight.

“I have no party lines to worry about. I can individually represent your voice in the legislature. Your voice is my voice in the provincial legislature,” Davies said. 

Kealy was also asked a similar question, and in answering, he spoke about the likelihood of the Conservative Government forming following the election. He emphasized his two years of experience in local government and his intentions not to be whipped by the Conservative Party. 

“I really think our region can flourish, I believe that I have shown and I am committed to standing fast by what my constituents want and that I have always followed up with when they have concerns,” Kealy said. 

Advance voting opened across the province on October 10th. Four locations are scheduled to accept voters until October 16.

In Fort St. John, residents can visit the Fort St. John Senior’s Hall from October 10th to October 16th to cast their ballots, and in Taylor, the Taylor Community Hall will be open on October 11th and 12th.

Fort Nelson’s advance voting location is the Northern Lamplighters Activity Center, which will be open to the public from October 11th to the 13th. The Pearkes Arts and Entertainment Centre in Hudson’s Hope will be open on October 15th and 16th.