The riding
After four terms, New Democrat Scott Fraser is not seeking re-election. He had about 50 per cent of the vote in the past four elections. Taking up the NDP mantle is Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne; Port Alberni Coun. Helen Poon is running for the Liberals; and Evan Jolicoeur, an entrepreneur and small business owner, is running for the Greens. They are joined by Libertarian Robert Clarke, who also ran in 2017, and Independent candidate Graham Hughes of Port Alberni.
2017 results
• NDP – Scott Fraser 12,556 (49.05 per cent)
• Liberal – Darren DeLuca 6,576 (25.69 per cent)
• Green – Alicia LaRue 5,208 (20.34 per cent)
• Conservative — Julian Fell 878 (3.43 per cent)
• Libertarian — Robert Alexander Clarke 294 (1.15 per cent)
• B.C. Refederation — Dan Cebuliak 86 (0.34 per cent)
• Voter turnout: 63 per cent
Rob Clarke, Libertarian
Website: libertarian.bc.ca
Age 49, lives in Port Alberni. Married with four children. Semi-retired welder and road builder. “I am currently waiting for a 10-minute operation to fix my cataract but will be waiting two to three years on the wait lists so I figured I would run for MLA again while I wait.”
Main issue: “Our government is spending hundreds of millions on lawyers to stop surgeons from performing surgeries like I need instead of paying the surgeons to do the surgeries. This is causing massive 2-5 year and growing waiting lists. Most of these people waiting are suffering terribly and many of them cannot work or provide for their families while they wait for 5 years for surgeries that they are not ‘ALLOWED’ to pay for by themselves.”
Graham Hughes, Independent
Age 34, born in Port Alberni. “I moved away with the intention of never coming back, but my sister became severely ill with mental health and addiction issues, with no supports, so I returned home to care for her and ended up staying after her death to try to help those not being helped, too.” Single. Works for Literacy Alberni Society.
Making a difference: “By fighting — a lot, and ensuring we talk about the real problems. … Working with the various partners who formed the Alberni COVID-19’s Community Response has proven that program changes, and our ability to adapt, can happen instantly, and make things better than before.”
Main issue: “Corruption, lack of accountability, no real provincial oversight to millions of taxpayer dollars being stolen.”
Evan Jolicoeur, Green
Born in Sudbury, Ont., 30 years old. Not married, no children. Has lived in riding for “much of the last two years.” Entrepreneur and small business owner, registered nurse and a mental health and addictions clinician.
Making a difference: “I have worked tirelessly to lift up those in need, those who are struggling and those left behind… And so I have dedicated my personal, relational and professional life to connecting and supporting stronger more resilient people, families and communities.”
Main issue: Sustainability of our environment. “We need to think about how to secure the foundational industries of forestry, tourism, fishing and aquaculture, while providing opportunities for innovation, small business and entrepreneurship.”
Josie Osborne, NDP
Age 48, born in Richmond but grew up on Island. Has lived in riding for 22 years. Married, no children. Fisheries biologist and small business owner, mayor of Tofino for 7 1/2 years.
Making a difference: As mayor, prioritized issues that help people and protect the environment, including affordable housing, high-speed internet access, reducing single-use plastics.
Main issue: Building a recovery from the pandemic that “enables all people to live with dignity, that continues the process of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, that improves health care, that makes life more affordable, that reduces climate pollution and enables good jobs in a clean-energy economy.”
Helen Poon, Liberal
Age 31, not married, no kids. Born in Vancouver, resident of riding since 2018. Trained as a lawyer, now a Port Alberni councillor, hotel-pub manager.
Making a difference: “After acquiring a business in Port Alberni, I began promoting the city as a destination for tourism and investment. I contributed to the arts and culture by featuring local and Indigenous musicians and DJs from all over B.C.”
Main issue: Affordable housing. “Mental health challenges, petty crime and recovery from drug addiction have a far better chance of being resolved when people are properly housed. I have seen first hand the difference that a clean and safe home has on people’s outlook on life.”
