Some of us voters living in the Cariboo-Chilcotin have been put on a diet for the upcoming B.C. Election.
With only two candidates on the ballot and there being no all-candidates forums in Williams Lake, it feels like we are being given the "light" version.
If you live in Williams Lake, west of Williams Lake, or south of Williams Lake you will only see the names of B.C. Conservative's Lorne Doerkson or B.C. NDP's Michael Moses on the ballot.
Both men have been representing Williams Lake prior to the election.
Since 2020, Doerkson has been our MLA. He was elected first as a B.C. Liberal, then under the B.C. United banner before he crossed the floor to the B.C. Conservatives in the spring of 2024.
Moses is almost halfway through his first term as a Williams Lake city councillor.
The two have a wider area to campaign because the Cariboo Chilcotin riding has been extended to include Tobiano, Ashcroft, Savona and Cherry Creek this time around.
Residents living east and just north of Williams Lake in communities such as Wildwood, Horsefly or Big Lake, however, have a choice of four candidates because they are in the Prince George Cariboo North riding.
Denice Bardua is running for the B.C. NDP, Sheldon Clare for the B.C. Conservatives, incumbent Coralee Oakes as an independent and Randy Thompson is the B.C. Green Party candidate.
People living in Quesnel, 100 Mile House and Ashcroft have also been given the opportunity to attend all-candidate forums in their communities.
The Quesnel and District Chamber of Commerce hosted one last week, there was one in 100 Mile House on Monday, Oct. 7 and the Ashcroft Hub is hosting one on Thursday, Oct. 10. A provincial leaders debate was to take place on Tuesday, Oct. 8, and would be televised on CBC TV, Radio One and Gem.
Recently the Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce confirmed it plans to do video interviews on Wednesday evening with Doerkson and Moses that will be posted on the chamber's YouTube channel for viewing.
Candidates will have the opportunity to talk about their platform, then will be asked questions related to health care, affordable housing, social services, Indigenous relations and small business.
The all-candidates forum on Thursday, Oct. 10 in Ashcroft will be posted on the Ashcroft Hub Facebook page, confirmed Barb Roden, Ashcroft mayor who will be moderating the forum.
Residents can vote at the BC Elections office in Williams Lake, 510 Broadway Avenue North anytime.
Official advance voting will take place at the Cariboo-Chilcotin Cariboo Memorial Rec Complex at 525 Proctor St. from Thursday to Sunday, Oct 10-13 and Tuesday to Wednesday, Oct 15-16, with regular voting day on Saturday, Oct. 19.
West of Williams Lake there is advance voting at the Historic Chilcotin Lodge at 1080 Stack Valley Rd Riske Creek from Thursday to Saturday, Oct 10-12.
It will be interesting to see after the fact if having only two candidates in our riding draws more voters or less.
We won't know until late Oct. 19, but until then, please exercise your democratic right to vote, and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
