When news spread that BC premier Christy Clark was making a rare appearance in Powell River, her first since becoming the leader of our province, reactions were mixed and, at times, quite heated.
Some residents suggested Clark’s plane should be turned around and sent back to where it came from, while others welcomed the opportunity to meet BC’s premier.
Many witty people suggested that if she was to come visit, it should have been via the broken ferry system that the province sets service levels for. One person even joked she could spend the four-hour wait at Earls Cove really getting to know Powell River residents.
Clark’s public appearance strolling down Marine Avenue on Tuesday, January 24, and then being the guest of honour at a Powell River Chamber of Commerce meet and greet session at a local restaurant, raised the ire of many.
While the chamber took the brunt for deciding to host a community meet and greet, part of its mandate being to promote the community and local businesses, this was a clear case of the premier trying to gain support in our riding.
Her office requested the chamber’s help and, like any other chamber in the province would, it obliged.
Hosting such a function at a 130-person-capacity venue had many people convinced the appearance was more about pandering to local business owners, who are very influential in local voting patterns, rather than a genuine effort to hear the concerns of all Powell River residents. Otherwise, the venue would have been much, much larger.
Amongst all of the chatter is the fact that Powell River had a chance to meet the premier of BC and express its concerns to her.
Those who were quick enough to get a spot had a responsibility that went well beyond hobnobbing with the leader of the province.
This was about ferry service and transportation issues. This was about fixed links, and roads or no roads. This was about affordable housing and homeless shelters. This was about creating better paying jobs. This was about health care. This was about the future of our riding and Powell River.
We can bicker all we want about why the premier came to Powell River, why now, who was behind it, and how she got here. But the reality is, she was here. What did we do about it?
Jason Schreurs, publisher/editor
