Coralee Oakes is the Liberal candidate for Cariboo North.
She submitted the following information to the Tribune as her running platform.
I believe in the abundance of the North Cariboo, of its people and its resources.
My family moved here during the great depression of the 1930s and our story has been one of hard work-one step in front of the other- generation and generation- to make this community successively better for the next generation.
I have always loved to hear the story of our family moving to the North Cariboo to carve out their new lives. My family’s dreams and their faith, that their choice would ensure a better future for our family.
My family was very proud when I had the opportunity to attend and graduate University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. This education has provided with an amazing job which, I have had the great privilege to work at for fourteen years, as the manager of the Chamber of Commerce. This job has provided me with leadership opportunities both in our community and at the provincial level representing small business and tourism.
I have also had the honour to serve the community of Quesnel as a City Councillor for six years. I am 40 years old with no children and most of my family live in Cariboo North. This election campaign is an exciting time for me to get out and to talk to other people and to hear their family’s stories and dreams of what they wish for the future.
A vote for “Coralee” means proven leadership at the community and provincial level brining our rural voice to the table. I have strong relations with all levels of government which is important to move important projects forward.
I am a fiscal conservative that believes we should be controlling spending and working towards a debt free British Columbia. I believe leadership is about making difficult decisions and often having to say no. In the BC Liberal platform, we are recognizing the critical role rural British Columbia plays in generating wealth and economic opportunity for the province and will start revenue sharing discussions with rural resource communities.
I believe good paying jobs are the key to our economic success and key to our future.
I am a strong advocate for continued and strengthened skills and trades training in our riding. I support more opportunities for young people to begin their skills and trades training in high school.
I will be a champion for the diversification of our economy and attraction of investment, whether it be supporting our small businesses, agriculture, sunrise forestry opportunities, tourism, mining and green technology to name a few.
Fiscal responsibility and controlling spending.
A modern knowledge, resource and gateway economy requires state of the art communication infrastructure. We must address cellular phone coverage and broadband requirements.
I am a strong advocate for quality health care and addressing the needs of seniors.
Education: graduated from Quesnel Secondary School; BA in Political Science from UBC; Diploma in Performing Arts from TRU. Business Retention and Expansion International from the University of Minnesota.
Community Involvement: Two terms city councillor serving as chair of the environmental committee as well as Community Policing; Fire and RCMP Liaison; Airshed Management Committee; Weldwood Public Advisory Committee; North Cariboo Marketing Cooperative; Canadian Academy of Travel and Tourism Industry Advisory group; North Cariboo Community Campus Fundraising Committee; North Cariboo Post Secondary Education Council; Spirit of 2010 Olympic Committee; Quesnel Multicultural Institutional Change Group; Youth Employment Certificate Partnership; Billy Barker Days Society; Miss Quesnel Self Development Program.
Boards I have sat on: director on the Small Business Roundtable; director on Junior Achievement BC; director on the Minister’s Council on Tourism; chair of the Visitor Centre Task Force; director of the Cariboo Chilcotin Tourism Association; president of the British Columbia Chamber Executives; director on the BC Chamber of Commerce; director on the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Executives.