Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett says it's business as usual after her recent acclamation as a BC Liberal Party candidate for the May 2013 provincial elections.
Pleased to be nominated, but just carrying on with her daily tasks in “working hard for constituents” is the way she describes her outlook after being acclaimed at a ceremony in Williams Lake, Nov. 21.
“I thank everybody who has supported me in the past, and I look forward to working for everyone as hard as always. My door is always open, and it will always be open to everyone.”
Barnett was first elected in 2009, and since then has served on select standing committees on Aboriginal affairs, on health, and on parliamentary reform, ethical conduct, standing orders and private bills.
Appointed parliamentary secretary for Rural Communities and Development in September 2011, she has travelled the province extensively since then working on rural issues and needs.
The economy will be a “very important” issue in this election, Barnett says, adding the B.C. Liberals do a “much better job” at growing the province's jobs and resource industries.
The NDP left a legacy of hefty regulations that the B.C. Liberals have since cut out, Barnett explains, and don't support big business, but rather it would “tax them until they are gone.”
“We must have big business; we must have mills; we must have mines. Those big businesses then generate the small businesses, and then we have an economy.”
In the Cariboo-Chilcotin, the main opportunities exist in its forestry, mining, tourism and agriculture industries, she notes.
If approved, New Prosperity Mine will bring a “huge benefit to the whole region,” but if it isn't, Barnett explains job diversification will be a front and foremost election issue.
“A healthy community is one that is working.”
The MLA is proud of her outspokenness in Legislature, a habit she is known for across government.
Barnett notes no one ran against her for the candidacy, but had party gone another way, she would have found another method of serving the people.
“I would have kept myself busy helping the community in some way, with other organizations. I enjoy working with people.”
A former mayor of 100 Mile House for 16 years, during that time she chaired the Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition and co-chaired the Council of Resource Community Mayors, and sat on numerous other committees.
She was a member of the federal government’s Minister of Natural Resources Committee and a member of the Premier's Climate Action Team.
More on her political and community experience is online at www.leg.bc.ca/mla/39thParl/barnettd.htm.