North Okanagan Shuswap NDP Candidate Application deadline August 8, 2014

With the nomination date for the next federal election set for August 23, the deadline for applying to be a candidate to represent the NDP in the next federal election is August 8th.

The challenge in waiting for the deadline is the short period of time to campaign to the local members, who are the ones who get to vote at the convention. The clock is ticking, we know there are passionate and committed NDP supporters who want to give up the next year getting to know the 100,000 or so eligible voters in our riding, so let's talk about it. Who do you think would make a good candidate?

Is there a relationship between election spending and results?

Let's have a look at past results and compare them to total expenses. Fortunately, election expenses are carefully documented by most parties and the reports are available at Elections Canada. How did the NDP fare in federal elections over the past two decades?

         For those who like numbers:

Campaign Year	Candidate	NDP Election Expenses	Percent of NDP Votes	Results
1988	Lyle Macwilliam	n/a	43%	1
1993	Lyle Macwilliam	n/a	24%	2
1997	Calvin White	17,699	12%	3
2000	Wayne Fowler	4,575	8%	3
2004	Alice Brown	36,696	24%	2
2006	Alice Brown	31,917	26%	2
2008	Alice Brown	17,160	20%	2
2011	Nikki Inouye	16,845	26%	2

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okanagan%E2%80%94Shuswap & Elections.Canada

Note that there are multiple ways to donate to the NDP, so you have to be careful that the $$$ go where you intend.

The local riding association keeps 100% of of the donations it receives, which is good. The bad part is we receive virtually zero financial support from the national party. 

We can run a good campaign locally, but we rely on local New Democrats (14,955 voted for Nikki in 2011) to pitch in financially. And they do, obviously.

Local NDP to Select Federal Candidate

Members of the NDP will choose their representative in the next federal
election at a nomination convention in Armstrong August 23 at 2pm. “We have had
interest from several potential candidates. One has been accepted by the
party’s vetting process, and another has made an application”, said Nick
Hodge, local association president.

"We have had discussions about forming a coalition of opposition parties
locally for the next election. Our executive has decided that we will
not be involved in restricting the choices on the ballot. While we
understand the sentiment, in a democracy more choice is always better,
and so we will putting forward an NDP candidate in the next election."

Voters at the convention must have been a member of the BC NDP for at
least 30 days prior to the convention. New candidates may still join the
race. Those interested should be a member of the party and be prepared
to file an application with the federal NDP prior to the convention. The
meeting is open to the public and everyone is welcome.

Location: Sunset Coronation Hall, 3005 Wood, Armstrong

To join: http://www.bcndp.ca/

Meet the current declared candidates: Jacqui Gingras, Richard Smiley on Facebook

Predict changes in the number of votes for each party, and see the results

Spreadsheet models can be used to predict the future. This one takes your best guess about how the number of votes will change locally for each party in the next federal election (compared to 2011), and shows the results.

Give it a try!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zdAWklyeAYmWdoMrQ2n63-weWyIzN4OJ9RU1LwEG-H0/edit?usp=sharing

Maven Lane grand opening a cause for celebration

Wednesday, June 25 at 3pm the North Okanagan Child Care Society will celebrate the Grand Opening of Maven Lane, the former West Vernon Elementary purchased from School District 22 in December 2013.

The not-profit, parent led society has operated child care and early learning facilities since 1994, first in the basement of Bearsto Elementary, and now permanently located in their own building.

The society is at forefront of early childhood education as it has learned from researchers such as Dr. Clyde Hertzman, UBC and Dr. Fraser Mustard, University of Toronto.

Their research shows that quality child care and early learning allow children to become ready for school, measured by their physical health, social abilities and mental skills. Children who are ready for learning when they enter primary school have an advantage, and that they tend to keep that advantage into their adult years shown by the massive NCDS study which is still following members the same group of 17,500 babies all born the same week in 1958.

We have a treasure, an icon, a monument to the power of what a small group of committed people can achieve in only twenty years. This Grand Opening provides an opportunity to celebrate the enormous achievements of this wonderful organization, and I hope to see you there.

Candidates declare interest in seeking NDP nomination

Three candidates so far have declared interest in seeking the local nomination for the 2015 federal election. Others may soon join, but the time for making a decision is closing in.

If you are interested in being the candidate, please contact the president of the riding association. The requirements are fairly straightforward:

1. You must be a member of the NDP (sign up at here)
2. An application, accepted by the federal party. Those forms available through the riding association president..

Candidates for the nomination to date:

Jacqui Gingras (blog)

Richard Smiley

Richard Smiley, Askews Armstrong

Janet McInnis


An executive meeting will be held to determine the nomination convention date shortly.

The "Take Back Our Coast" tour led by Skeena MP and Opposition finance critic Nathan Cullen visits the Vernon Rec Centre at 12 noon Thursday, May 22nd.

Cullen also visits Kamloops the same evening at St. Andrews on the Square at 7:30 pm.

"The Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline risks our environment, threatens thousands of good jobs in the Skeena and is opposed by over 60% of British Columbians", states NDP MP Nathan Cullen.

More info available at http://takebackourcoast.ca/

Tickets (free) are at http://eventbrite.ca/event/11566801615?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_eventv2&utm_term=eventname_text

Only 100 seats are available.

The presentation is a multi-media event and talk about the risks and costs of oil tanker traffic and spills. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.