Now that the Harper government has gerrymandered Nelson into the Kootenay Columbia federal riding, Nelsonites should know that if things go as the Conservative Party of Canada planned, we will be getting a Conservative member of parliament — David Wilks — who missed more than half of the local debates held during the last election.
Mr. Wilks recently voted for Bill S4 which states in part that “organizations that are parties to a prospective business transaction may use and disclose personal information without the knowledge or consent of the individual.” I don’t know about you, but to me giving that kind of power to corporations is a very bad path to travel down.
Since I believe that not voting is the same as voting for the worst possible outcome, and since having Mr. Wilks as my MP strikes me as the worst possible outcome in the upcoming election, I encourage everyone in Nelson, especially those who did not vote last time or who are new voters, to get up and vote in October.
I am a swing voter with a progressive bias, currently strongly attracted to the Green Party because of what is happening to the planet. But because of what seems to me the obvious gerrymander of our riding so that it will return Conservatives to parliament, I will vote NDP this time — not so bad a second choice — and I encourage others to do likewise.
Cameron Carter
Nelson