Horgan hits the midway to celebrate movement

Premier John Horgan entered to a standing ovation at the PNE Coliseum on Monday, shaking the hands of well-wishers and supporters as he descended the auditorium stairs at the B.C. Federation of Labour’s Labour Day rally.

Horgan told the cheering crowd he was thrilled to be there.

“I always had the dream of being at centre ice in the Coliseum. I thought I’d be wearing skates when I got here, but this is good as well.”

Horgan said that although his government had been conducting a review of the labour code and working on increasing minimum wage, there was one small thing he was particularly proud of: replacing the signs along Highway 19 near Cumberland commemorating labour leader Ginger Goodwin.

Albert “Ginger” Goodwin was a labour activist who organized B.C. mining and smelter workers. Goodwin, a pacifist, was shot to death by a special constable while in the woods around Cumberland, while evading the First World War draft.

A section of Highway 19 was dedicated to the Comox Valley labour leader in 1996 under direction of Glen Clark and the ruling NDP of the day, but the signage was removed in 2001 when the liberals came into office.

“The rights that we have today were not given to us. They were hard fought, and the people that came before us, governments, leaders, working people fought tirelessly to make sure we have the benefits and the rights that we experience in this great province today,” said Horgan.

Horgan said he hoped people will get out and vote in the October referendum on proportional representation.

“For too long the first-past-thepost system has allowed less than a majority of the public to have too much of the power. I think that’s wrong, you think that’s wrong and that’s why we have to change it.”

Lorene Oikawa, an employee in B.C.’s Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, came out to the event with friends.

“This event is a recognition that what makes this country strong is its workers, who often get left out of the story of who created this country and built this province.”

Oikawa said she was thrilled to see Horgan out at the event.

“It’s amazing to see him out here recognizing workers.”

Unions are especially important for young workers, said Oikawa, who may not know their rights, or their employers’ responsibilities. “Find out what the rules are, what training you need, what protective equipment you may need, and what your employer is doing to teach you about safety.”