Election Reflection

Nail biting excitement over an election is unusual for most people but a 74% turn out certainly demonstrates a revitalized motivation and involvement. It was a wonderful evening for many but disappointing for some of course. Many congratulations to Wayne Stetski, our new MP elect and all the candidates for putting your names forward for a public office that can be gruelling. The local forums showed all candidates to be worthy of public office but it was policy that won. It might be comforting to some, to realize that Mr Stetski had been approached by both Liberals and NDP to run for this election.
Congratulations to all the support workers, voters and those who kept a polite, factual and intelligent dialogue about the real issues.
Watching from Quebec City and hearing Peter Mansbridge call the election before the BC polls had closed was an insulting interlude in the roller coaster evening for those from BC. As of the early hours of the morning, CBC Canada Votes had not updated the Columbia Kootenay riding's numbers and the riding was never listed as one to watch, yet it proved to be one of the closest races in the country.  This wake up event will surely provide the momentum to bring some polite progressive politics to the region and what could be better than that.