What are the issues?

Healthcare, the economy are on minds of all voters

Judging by the questions posed by audience members at a senior’s forum in Osoyoos last week, the main issues in the provincial election will be healthcare and the economy. Even though the writ hasn’t been dropped, the Wine Country Retired Teachers’ Association was first out of the gate hosting a pair of public sessions for the BoundarySimilka me en candidates.

MSP premiums, potential school closures, job creation and even the proposed national park were among the issues debated between incumbent Linda Larson and NDP challenger Colleen Ross.

But what else could potentially become province-wide election issues?

Fundraising and pay-for-access events, which couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Liberals, will definitely be an issue, but not necessarily at the local level.

The economy, which is one of the Liberals’ strengths, is always a top three issue in every issue. Will I have a job? Is my job safe? Will by grandchildren have a job?

B.C.’s foster care crisis and shameful child poverty rates will be another hot topic of debate.

Locally, in Boundary-Similkameen the future of Osoyoos Secondary School (which was saved by the bell for two years on June 30) will be an issue. Nobody wants to see OSS close.

We also expect to hear questions in the Pen tic ton riding and Boundary Sim ilka me en on the proposed national park.

In Penticton, Save Skaha Park could potentially become an issue. Although it’s a municipal issue, part of the marina lies on provincial land.

The four-year term for municipal councillors — which everybody hates — will likely become an issue in Penticton but not so in Osoyoos and Oliver where people seem happy with their mayors and councillors.

In the meantime, expect special interest groups and private citizens to lobby the media in hopes of making the concerns near and dear to their hearts a mainstream issue.

Some might be successful, others will have their ideas lost in the shuffle.

It’s often hard to predict what will captivate the public’s imagination.

B.C. voters head to the polls in another seven weeks — May 9 to be precise.

A date for the traditional Penticton Herald All-Candidates forum (which is always the best attended) is being finalized and will be announced later this week. We will hold the event closer to the election date. —James Miller