Local Fletcher to run for NDP in Prince George-Valemount

A union activist based in Prince George will be the B.C. NDP’s candidate in Prince George-Valemount.

Natalie Fletcher will be acclaimed as the party’s candidate at a March 11 nomination meeting, according to a statement issued Monday.

Fletcher will be trying to unseat 16-year incumbent Shirley Bond. In an interview, Fletcher said she has nothing personal against Bond.

“My issue is more with her government,” Fletcher said. “We feel Christy Clark isn’t working for us... we can’t afford four more years of her government.”

A 30-year resident of Prince George, Fletcher is married with two children, both now adults. She currently is the Hospital Employees Union representative for Northern Health’s disability management program.

Fletcher’s top three issues are restoring funding to education, jobs for northern British Columbians and improving healthcare.

On education, Fletcher noted her children were the ones who endured 15 years of underfunding after then education minister Christy Clark stripped out language in the teachers’ contract regarding class size and composition.

A recent Supreme Court of Canada that restored language and interim deal worth $50 million province-wide has been reached to meet the revived standards with negotiations under way to hammer out a longer-term arrangement.

On jobs, Fletcher noted the recent $150-million commitment to silviculture.

“It seems that in light of the election, we get a few dollars but it’s definitely not enough,” she said.

As for healthcare, Fletcher maintained the new deal the provincial government recently reached with Ottawa is inferior to past arrangements. In 2015, Fletcher was a rally captain when a protest was held in Prince George for the one-year anniversary of the expiration of the national health accord.