Dear Editor,
After yesterday’s NDP candidate nomination vote in Columbia River Revelstoke, it is disappointing that Mr. Taft’s first public communication to constituents involved Donald Trump style personal attacks. He clearly does not understand this tactic is not what the people of our riding want from those asking to be hired in the next provincial election.
My first public communication to Mr. Taft is simple. Congratulations on your nomination and I look forward to the campaign. I also want to offer my congratulations to the other NDP nominee, Spring Hawes, and although she was not chosen she ran an ethical, principled campaign that clearly aligned with the values of the NDP Party.
In Mr. Taft’s press release he criticizes me because I have not changed my principles or my party. Mr. Taft is a professional politician and has supported many political parties so far in his young life. He sat on the federal Conservative Party of Canada Board of Directors for Columbia Kootenay, was a member of the BC Liberal Party, a member of the BC First Party and now he claims to support the NDP.
I am a proud BC Liberal Party member because of my firm belief that a strong economy is the best way to care for the people we love. We need growth and responsible resource development to pay for the services families rely on, while ensuring they continue to pay the lowest tax rates in Canada.
I would never switch political parties just because I figured it would get me elected. Even after being unsuccessful in the 2013 election, I stuck to the values of free enterprise and fiscal responsibility while advocating relentlessly to give Columbia River Revelstoke residents a voice on issues that matter to them and their families.
Over the past four years I have been listening to and working with people here in the riding. , I have worked with Provincial Ministers, the Area E RDEK Director and Meadowbrook community to establish Cherry Creek Provincial Park just outside of Kimberley, and helped the CSRD Area A Director in Golden and Golden raft company owners to meet with the Ministry of Transportation on the Kicking Horse Canyon situation. This meeting resulted in a grant to Golden of $40,000 from the province to research best possible alternatives to the canyon issue. I organized a meeting in Victoria with the Mayor of Revelstoke and three BC government Ministers to discuss the Trans-Canada Highway issue and I am also working with Mayor McKee on bringing a full time Conservation Officer back to Revelstoke.
I am not a professional politician, just an ordinary person who wants to put a lifetime of diverse experience to work for you. Mr. Taft is correct that the people of this riding want an MLA that listens and that is exactly what I have been doing over the past four years and will continue to do so.
Doug Clovechok
BC Liberal Candidate
Columbia River Revelstoke
