And she is unelectable in Nechako Lakes.
She is another NON-Resident and a lesbian to boot.
This being VERY conservative values, she will lose thousands of votes for this alone.
May be okay in other constituencies, but not this one.

you sound exactly like the person she doesnt want to represent. When she gets elected her priority should be to educate bums like you

Doubt very much she will be elected. Really don’t think she’ll be well received out that way.Guess the Liberals will win that riding hands down again. Adrian, you really don’t know, do you. Ah well, folks that are out of touch rarely do………..

Are there any residents running from that riding? Why would the Liberals win it? Rustad isn’t a resident is he? Who is John Rustad? He appears to be quite like that MP Harris guy.

I’m going to assume the reason Mike Summers makes so many homophobic remarks, is because he’s actually closeted gay.

In any case, he’s an embarrassment to the people of Vandehoof, and exactly the reason it’s so important to have a strong candidate like Sussanne Skidmore-Hewlett representing the area.

Can’t wait for May 2013 to send Rustad packing.

Community organizer, court clerk, amateur sports involvement. Hmmm! Just the leadership skills we require to help run another tax and spend NDP government. Will we ever learn? Apparently not. Hey! I just answered my own question! How about that, eh?

Not a Lib lover but i think i will vote Lib again

Does this site even try to report news anymore? There’s a zillion things that have happened that are more interesting than this press release

Archestratus, you got me.
You say that to expose my guilt…

But, knowing the community like I do, she will lose THOUSANDS of votes simply because the area is very conservative in it’s values.

As for anyone independent living in the area, I know some, but the lack of an accountant of record, is a major hurdle to get over.

“She is a community organizer”

I always wondered who organized the communities west of us.

And what do you do?

“I’m a community organizer.”

“I have a Bachelor of Cummunity Organizing (BCo)”

Rather pathetic comments, don’t you think? If you have no valid criticism, then attack personally, because personal traits are so much more important than policies or past activities, aren’t they.

No wonder we have so many crap governments with people voting on the basis given!

I’m glad to see 250News removed the statement in the article about the candidates sexual orientation. Mind you, they made no acknowledgement of doing so, and certainly no apology for including it in the first place. I wonder. will they make the same mistake with the sexual orientation of other non-NDP candidates?

Pathetic candidates (theoretically), pathetic judgements. It only stands to reason especially when you see how our present governments behave and govern. Just call those points of view “defensive cynisism”. Works for me.

I don’t care much for the NDP just based on policy and past performance and not the sexual preference of any candidate. Ultra conservative is a term religious extremists like, say the Taliban, Al Qaeda and born again Christians use as code words for homophobic, racist , intolerant behaviour.
Never mind the fact that she may be full of great ideas, energy and ability, it’s more important to you morons who she sleeps with? Look at the divorce rate among the straight population, over 50 percent. How about domestic violence in so called straight marriages? There is no moral superiority for a straifght person over a gay person, quite the opposite in a lot of cases.
There has always been people attracted to the same sex, there always will be. A person is born gay, it’s not something you choose to be. You religious extremists all seem to believe that life itself is a gift from God, a child born autism or birth defects,etc. you can accept and love and believe this must be the will of God, but to be born gay is an abomination? You have your heads stuck up your smelly little butts. You say we are all Gods children but do not act upon the basic concept of love and tolerance, the very thing that good old boy J C seemed to be preaching about. You make me sick

The fact that she is a civil servant is reason enough for me not to vote for her.

Oh great. The BCGEU is going to be negotiating pay increases with their very own members.

This women is ALL about union politics. How anybody in this riding would fall for such a cynical ploy to raise public sector wages and benefits, is beyond me.

And oh yea, Gus you are a pig or maybe you just can’t spell?

Good ‘un Gus. Perhaps if this woman sits in on a few sermons out in the Lakes, it might be helpful, but, I worked for that there union for a time, the NDP paid lip service to all of us and they still do.
Was really hoping the Conservatives were gonna get up and running but guess I’m gonna back the liberals.
I know a lot of people out in the Lakes, pretty sure they’re gonna stay Liberal.

It just goes to show, how screwed up the NDP is. I mean any vote they receive will be held with a pinched nose. One term and gone.

The reason the NDP can’t shake big labour is because they are infested with their members. As we have seen with school boards, unionized public sector workers see having members on the other side of the bargaining table as the most useful end-run around democracy.

The ironic thing is, as we saw the last time, the NDP government realizes other people’s money doesn’t grow on trees, and winds up backing down from pre-election promises to the unions. Then the strikes begin…Deja-vu all over again.

Right… Sitting in on few sermons will change your sexuality . Why not get your little gang together and march around carrying signs that proudly proclaim that god (small g ) hates fags? Protest at the graveside of dead soldiers like down in the southern states, spread your message of hatred and intolerance. That would be a “good un ” huh? Duh…..

The reason the NDP can’t shake big labour is because they are infested with their members

————————————–
So the NDP i infested with big labour.So what are the liberals infested with? How about the Chamber of Commerce? Or just look at the many fast food outlets most of the owners are living off the backs of our youth

I guess its OK for some of these owners to make a million bucks and pay out youthe a minimum wage.

Maybe the NDP does not have all the answeres but to watch the liberls is mind boggling. How can people even think of voting for them.
Cheers

” Or just look at the many fast food outlets most of the owners are living off the backs of our youth

I guess its OK for some of these owners to make a million bucks and pay out youthe a minimum wage.”

This has to be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read on this site. Do you honestly believe that someone who owns a fast food franchise or two is making millions? Good grief.

And what, exactly, is wrong with paying our youth minimum wage to work at a fast food restaurant? Do you seriously think that a high school student working at McDonalds deserves more than that? Holy cow! They’re earning some spending money and they’re gaining some work force experience.

axman: “This has to be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read on this site. Do you honestly believe that someone who owns a fast food franchise or two is making millions? Good grief.”

No kidding. That’s a pretty standard post from Retired02 though. He or she is living on another planet somewhere.

And hey, if you want to make some outrageous wages for low skill work, check out the City’s job postings.

I must say too that I am disappointed with gus; that comment was not something I’d expect from him.

ammonra: “Rather pathetic comments, don’t you think? If you have no valid criticism, then attack personally, because personal traits are so much more important than policies or past activities, aren’t they.”

I have to say I agree. But I don’t see you coming to Pat Bell’s or Shirley Bond’s rescue when similar types of comments are thrown their way. Hmm…

When I said “Sit in on a few sermons,I meant for her to meet and greet the folks that she is trying to get to vote for her, duh!
On another note, this just shows me the NDP decision making process, and It really concerns me. I know of others in the logging sawmill, farming industry(and yes, religious to boot) that would probably win the riding without any difficulty whatsoever.
So yeah, staying Liberal.

I can’t say I have ever heard of comments about Pat Bell or Shirley Bond’s sexual preferences, JohnnyBelt, so what has there been to protest? I will say that I have only ever commented on or criticised either one of them from a political perspective and never from a personal one, since I usually find personal attacks distasteful. The only exception I make is to respond to a personal attack of me or someone else who could not do so.

I do find the assertion that union activity has any negative impact on democracy to be ridiculous, though. Union members are as much citizens of this province and country as non-union members and have as equal a right to participate in any democratic process of any kind at any time. That is what makes up Canadian liberty. I decry the underhand attempt to deprive them of that most fundamental of rights, and I personally believe that those who try to do so are the true enemies of democracy. True democracy comes from everyone, absolutely everyone, being free to express an opinion to any politician or another citizen without running the risk of being demonised as a consequence.

And, before anyone says that is what I have just done, let me refer you back to the exception I made in the first paragraph.

Oh I see, rude comments and personal attacks are only bad if they’re against someone you support. Just wanted to see where you drew the line, that’s all.

ammonra: “I do find the assertion that union activity has any negative impact on democracy to be ridiculous, though.”

With you being an ardent NDP supporter, I can see where you would say that, since the NDP is traditionally tied to big labour. If you can’t see how that might be a bad thing, I don’t know what else to tell you.

“I must say too that I am disappointed with gus; that comment was not something I’d expect from him.”

Typos are common in my posts. Sometimes one makes Freudian slips, both in writing and in speach. Watch some youtube TV news bloopers and there are several even in speaking on camera by professionals.

Sorry, but it was a slip.

But the rest was not a slip. The key point is that this person has no credentials for being a person to represent us in the legislature at a time when our representatives are getting more and more flack from us for not doing the job they need to do. And I mean that for ANY person running for ANY party. I expect more than a so called “community organizer”. I need proof of real change people have made that can be applied directly when they sit on Council, Regional District Boards, Provincial Legislatures, or the Parliament of Canada.

“I do find the assertion that union activity has any negative impact on democracy to be ridiculous, though.”

This works as well …..

“I do find the assertion that business ownerhip has any negative impact on democracy to be ridiculous, though.”

The thing is, they are both people’s opinions, and it is those people who vote. Get over it.

Guilt by association is a natural human trait and if people, especially those who run for public office, have not found that out yet, then it is about time they did because it would serve us all much better.

And JB fits right into the same pattern …

” ……. I can see where you would say that, since the NDP is traditionally tied to big labour. If you can’t see how that might be a bad thing, I don’t know what else to tell you.”

” ……. I can see where you would say that, since the BCLiberals are traditionally tied to big business. If you can’t see how that might be a bad thing, I don’t know what else to tell you.”

Gets us no place other than to expose each other’s boogeyman, does it?

;-)

Wasnt there once a community organizer that went on to become president of the united states? Let me guess, you hate him too.

JohnnyBelt, obviously you need a remedial reading course. I said I respond to insults against myself or those who are unable to respond, not those I support.

Being NDP does not mean I am tied to “Big Labour”. In fact, in Manitoba I took a union before the Manitoba Labor Board three times with complaints of an unfair labour practice, hardly the actions of someone under Big Labour’s thumb. My personal experiences in the NDP is that unions and the NDP have a lot in common so work together, as is our democratic right. However, one thing I have alsways found abundantly clear, and that is that neither controls the other. In the interests of clarity I will say I was also a union shop steward for a time.

To Gus, I don’t need to get over it, I accept it as a reality of politics. I agree that corporations have democratic rights similar to unions. As such, and like unions, they are also subject to criticism when they engage in politics with which others do not agree, such as using their clout to “infest” (as Styxxx puts it) boards, committees and other government advisory and pressure groups in order to have self serving legislation passed (the HST being an example).

Incidentally, the use of “infest” by Styxx is a typical example of what I was drawing attention to. Use a word which conveys some sort of negative, malicious activity but don’t justify its use. It’s quite degrading to Styxxx to do that, but perhaps one should expect nothing better from one who names himself the river of death.

You are a black and white person, aren’t you Bonneville?

I ask some simple questions to get beyond such words as “community organizer” since they can be almost anything that. Thus I seek out more information.

1.Did the so-called community organizer try to organize the community to support the organizer’s vision? – Any Dictator would be the appropriate answer here.

2.Did the so-called community organizer try to organize the community to support the community’s vision? – The organization around the Haldi Road situation would be a good example here.

3.Did the community-organizer succeed?

4.What were the failures and what were the successes?

5.How can that experience be applied to the duties of an MLA?

Remember, we have often voted for people to sit on Council and discovered afterwards they were duds. We never asked the right questions. So, instead of asking the right questions, we simply take the attitude that it is the other party’s turn again ……..

This has to be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read on this site. Do you honestly believe that someone who owns a fast food franchise or two is making millions? Good grief.
————————————–
Beforre you make such a claim check out MacDonalds and see who the owers might be oe Wendys. And there are other retailers were their employees work for minimum wage.
Good grief you are so uninformed.
Cheers

Actually I noticed that the words “community organizer” do not show up on her own page. The word “activist” does.

Activist = advocating or opposing a cause or issue vigorously

In my mind an activist is one who has a very strong focus on a single direction. The mind has been made up as to how things should work

On the other hand, a community organizer does just that, organizes a community to take care of itself and its needs. They help in organizing to the vision of the community. It is a way to learn more about the neighbourhood/region and members and the dynamics of people and teamwork and cooperation. A true sense of community creates a sense of belonging that not only enhances individual and collective survivability but also strengthens our mental, emotional and spiritual well being.

Community organizers bring people together to find ways to not only enhance their own lives but also ensure that the lives of future generations do not make the same mistakes made by previous generations. Lofty thinking, but not really the reality around here, is it?

So, a community organizer, Debora, lost out to an activist is the way I look at it.

Then I will expand that. The NDP is looking for activists, not community organizers.

;-)

Ammonra-well said. One point you made I found interesting. Corporations are corporate entities and don’t really have democratic rights to manipulate our governments in the same manner as unions. Unions are the representative organizations of working men and women, corporate boards are the representatives of the corporations share holders.. who may or may not be British Columbian or Canadian. I see that corporations should have the ability to participate in our politics in order to protect their interests, but I also see a greater danger in foreign interests putting their interests in profit over our environment, working conditions, and tax system.

The arguement that the NDP is tied to big labour rings hollow when you can see the Liberals are tied to Big Business, foreign investors, and profits for share holders.

It is spelled “Styxxx”.

I somehow doubt Styxxx is a follower of Greek mythology, but rather a follower of the 1970s band Styx and thus is of that generation.

But hey,why do we not let Styxxx tell his/her own story rather than make one up?

:-Þ

Typical whining dipper: I made no personal attack against anyone and the little bimbo chooses “infested” as a big bad word. Well listen honey, I practiced about as much PC-speak as I can manage, without throwing-up in my mouth, on my previous posts.

This is an opinion blog. I spared you my opinion of her living arrangements, even-though if you google her name, you find a long interview given on just that subject, and stuck to politics.

Don’t like her. Don’t like the fact that the NDP could have candidates who appealed to the mainstream electorate. That for the most part are not progressive activists.

It is almost like the NDP dares conservative ridings to vote for them.

Nobody votes for the candidate anyway….they vote against the party they are mad at. It’s election by default. :-)

“Unions are the representative organizations of working men and women ……”

Well, not in my experience since they did not represent me when I was a member. First, I had to become a member because I was offered a job in a unionized operation. The only way I could get out of that was to declare that it was against my religious beliefs. In that case they would still have deducted union dues.

They still have not worked out the “qualified” and “best qualified” to do a job dilemma when it comes to seniority. That, in my mind, is one of the major downfalls of unions. Even though some professional unions purport to deal with the aspect of what competent, qualified, experienced and similar notions mean and state they have standards in place, they really do not when push comes to shove. They should get all that motherhood and apple pie stuff out of their bylaws and face the fact that they deal with seniority only when it comes to layoffs.

On top of that, unions are corporations, they are not only no longer regional, but typically national and have strong international ties.

Who represents our forestry workers here? The United Steelworkers. Can anything be more ridiculous? Perhaps forestry is going to go the way of the steel industry in Canada as a result.

http://www.usw.org

gus: “Gets us no place other than to expose each other’s boogeyman, does it?”

Exactly my point. The question is, which is worse? Depends on your perspective. And nobody’s minds are being changed no matter where you might stand. That’s the thing about opinions, right?

gus: “They still have not worked out the “qualified” and “best qualified” to do a job dilemma when it comes to seniority. That, in my mind, is one of the major downfalls of unions.”

That, and it’s nearly impossible to be fired, no matter how incompetent you might be.

Hey, John Rustad, it’s May 2013, Welcome Back!

Is the discussion about the perceived flaws of unions, or how unions and corporations influence governments? Sure there are flaws in unions, there are also flaws in non union employment positions. Since when does ‘best person for the job’ come into effect when the business owner gives all the management jobs to relatives and family members?

If you have a family owned corporation supporting a political party it’s a very different scenario than having a foreign controlled corporation doing the same thing. IMHO

Who represents our forestry workers here? The United Steelworkers. Can anything be more ridiculous? Perhaps forestry is going to go the way of the steel industry in Canada as a result
——————————————
Its the forestry workers and steel workers that chose to amalgamate.And the steelworkers included the mining operations in the province. and furthermore whats in a name.And its news to me that you were ever a union member ,Gus. You should stick with some of the worldly knowledge that you try to impress us with from time to time.

I spent six months on staff at Intercon a long time ago and it was the most degrading job I ever had. You never knew when you were going to get stabbed in the back.

And to think that unions are corporations is a bit far fetched. The last that I herd they were under the ministry of labour in the government or where ever our current government has stuck them but its not under corporate affairs.

The unions I knew where a faternal organization where we had annual picnics, christmas patrties and regular meetings. And yes it is a nationl organization but on the local level its for those who toil for corporations from day to day and they get whats left over.If it wasnt big labour it would never work.
Cheers

“Since when does ‘best person for the job’ come into effect when the business owner gives all the management jobs to relatives and family members?”

If it is a small company, it is not likely unionized.

If it is a large company, the owner does not have enough relatives and family members.

Do you really think that management at the tree pulpmills in town are all family and relatives?

My grandfather had a small business employing up to 30 or so in his middle years. Thosew were the good old days when such businesses were “family businesses”. In fact, his borther’ side still carries on the old family business which started 150 years ago. The older generation all live in an apartment building built on top of the business head office in the middle of a downtown European city.

I wish we had people and an economic environment which provided the opportunities of creating more “family businesses”.

I like small businesses.

“If you have a family owned corporation supporting a political party it’s a very different scenario than having a foreign controlled corporation doing the same thing.”

Exactly the point when it comes to union corporations according to a recent USA supreme court decision.

Interesting read Gus!I personally like to use the union for a comparison with employees! If they want to strive for mediocrity and not be valued for your work then join a union! The key is to find an employer who appreciates you, and recipricate! Winning combination every time!

Dear Gus, I merely provided you with a counter to the statement that unions stifle promotion based upon merit by providing one example of the same scenario within a non union environment. In the pulpmills? Are you serious? Many management employees in the mills came up through the union rank and file…call it promotions based on merit if you will, the unions don’t prevent it.

WTH do I care what the supreme court in the USA rules….I am Canadian.

Cougs–that is the absolute best employer employee relationship you could find, I agree. If they were all like that we wouldn’t have unions, or professional associations.

Are companies paying better than union wages justto keep unions out?? Of course the answer to that is yes. So my question is have unions out lived their usefulness–Answer is hell no they keep buisness honest.

Styxxx calls me a “little bimbo” and “little honey”! Me, a 250 lb, 69 year old male, married for 49 years to the same woman and with three children. Makes you wonder who has a confused gender identity, doesn’t it?

The Lieberals sold the BC Rail illegaly ands they brought in the HST under the boards. The priemier cristy clark is the Queen of the proveyors of untruths as she demonstrates that BC has increased jobs and she says nothing about the downgrading of BC’s credit rating. She has made $1,000,000 available for preomoting herself and the lieberal brand. All of this is being done while BC is getting deeper into debt. Vote NDP

Why does it have to be between the ndp and the liberals in Vanderhoof? As far as I can see most employment and business in Vanderhoof is independent and local. Why not a really good independent that sits as a balance of power in a minority legislature? Are the citizens in that riding so civically retarded that they can’t organize a candidate from their own ranks? I don’t think thats the case though… what are the issues of the riding and then nominate on that basis would make this a real race.

Rustad is a really weak candidate. I wouldn’t be that much surprised if he did get beat by a colorful candidate. Problem is the riding of Nechako-Lakes votes like a herd and a weak candidate can get elected in that riding just for being with the party that carries the banner for the herd. That’s how Rustad got elected in the first place IMO.

ammonra: You come across as a middle-aged woman. Because I guessed wrong doesn’t call my identity into question.

Maybe you are just the “T” in LGBT, and don’t realize it. I’m sure you will get tons of support from Suussaanne.

ROFLMAO

Styxx: “ammonra: You come across as a middle-aged woman.”

Lol. I thought the same thing.

Homosexuals don’t bother me but socialists sure do.

& +1 on the middle age woman thing. lol

To all you NDP fans on this site….oh yes we read you every day for a laugh…

Read my lips……When the May provinci9al election is over…the MLA will be….
a re-lected John Rustad

The folks in this riding know the great job and he will win by even a bigger vote margin than before…