Cariboo North Liberal candidate Coralee Oakes is sharing Cariboo Chilcotin Liberal candidate Donna Barnett’s office in Williams Lake. Oakes said Friday she’s hoping to visit the southern end of her riding, at least once a week.
“We opened our office in Quesnel in February on Anti-Bullying Day, and I’ve been in here (Williams Lake) once a week for the last month and a half.”
Cariboo North is a large and spread out riding, Oakes said. “You try and make sure that you’re in as many places as possible.”
Her visits to the area will depend on events, she added. “We have 12 all-candidates forums at this point and are, unfortunately, having to start to turn some down. I need to get out on the doorsteps and the phone and make sure there is some balance,” Oakes said, adding on April 24, she’ll be at the Yellow Umbrella for a visit over tea.
As the first week of the campaign comes to an end, Oakes’s impression so far is positive. “It’s great to see the diversity of our riding and see that the future of our economy is a little more positive.”
Oakes suggested government needs to make sure it’s taking care of small businesses.
“That’s a key priority for me. How do we wrap our minds around making sure that we’re attracting investment, keeping our families here and ensuring we have the jobs?”
Since opening her campaign office, Oakes has hosted weekly discussions on key topics, such as forestry, agriculture, and tourism.
“Then we’d do outreach if people wanted to call in or if people had concerns they wanted us to address. I learned everything from community pastures to community forests,” she said.
Oakes said since the writ was dropped shes felt energized and is enjoying the privilege of meeting people in the riding.