Maybe it’s not the remuneration, but rather the power and prestige they seek. Seems we need to reinvent the political landscape so that there is once again goal congruence between representative and represented. Maybe we ought to peg MP compensation to the median of the middle-class. Perhaps that would change their focus. It might reduce the number of lawyers entering politics too, because how many of them want to work for that kind of pay. Until we start hearing politicians saying sorry and admitting their mistakes, we’ll know we’re still heading down the wrong road as far as I’m concerned. Until we have better tools to hold these people to account, people will continue to disengage from the system and that could lead to very bad things for our country.

Mr. Meisner,

As the campaign has progressed, I have wanted to knows what you thought your level of “social responsibility” was to the people of Cariboo-Prince George. Thank you kindly for addressing this, it needed to be said and is much appreciated. Todd’s gracious acceptance of TJ’s backing, for me, shed him in a poorer light. It is a shame, but I guess that’s the game as it’s being played this week.

Also as the campaign progresses, my support for Nick Fedorkiw has only increased. As an economist with previous experience in Ottawa, not only does he have the skills, he will only vie for said prize with integrity; Power to him for his strength and sticking to his principles. I trust him in Ottawa. For this reason he has my vote, and I’m sure that of many others, locked down.

Ulitmately they can play all the games they like, in the end the people will decide who gets the job in government.
Right now they are playing silly little kindergarten games amongst themselves vying for power and control, althought I am not really sure of what?.

The situation I see is once one politician, or wanna be politician sinks to a new low it then becomes acceptable. What green has done trying to get the conservative nomination has lowered the bar once again and this will be the way things are done till someone else figures out something worse to do.

We want the best people in politics but we are getting the worst. The ones who will do anything, say anything just to get the seat. Exact opposite of what we need, if they will do that just to get the seat what are they willing to do once they get elected? I guarantee it has nothing to do with what their constituents want. This is why we have that disgust towards politicians.

Well said, Ben! Its been stated by many, that these nomination battles are among the worst elements in our political process, and that stretches far into every political party not just the conservatives. Sadly, desperation brings out the worst in people. I felt early on that it was important to go out and meet every candidate on a personnel level, not just vote for someone because he or she was a friend of a friend. Its our responsibility as members to make an honest decision and if you haven’t engaged with each of these people, how is that honest? So when you hear garbage talk, there is already a relationship in place in order to clarify these rumors. In the short time frame we have left I urge voting members to pick up the phone and introduce yourself. You may not intend to vote for that person but at least you’ve made an honest effort.

As I read Meisner’s story, “Politics Sink to New Low” seems like a story that should have been described 2 months ago? The Conservative Cariboo- Prince George federal race is coming to a conclusion and the region has (so far) lost an opportunity to learn what and how the next federal representative will represent the constituency, and totally agree with Meisner’s assessment, the race has been largely based “upon underground comments to discredit one or more candidates” and not ideas, and this is disheartening.

My support also is for Nick Fedorkiw. As a young professional; an economist with previous work experience in Ottawa; and a life time growing up in northern BC, I trust him. Think Nick can represent the interests of constituency with integrity and honesty. For this reason, too, Nick has my vote for the Conservative nomination. However, the forces of gossip and innuendo may prevail, and wonder what kinds of sweetheart deals have already been established!

It was the former mayor who set the tone for the nomination. She and her henchmen rode in and took over the executive, giving them unfettered access to the contact information for all members including those signed up by others hoping to get the nod.

Grewal was not very smart in letting his membership lapse but not extending the cutoff day for one week shows the exec board had their fingers all over the scale, leaving the frontrunner on the sidelines.

Then there is Todd- will we ever get the full story in relation to his departure from the winter games. Possibly a lame attempt to discredit another opponent?

It was gangGreen who began the mud slinging and it is not entirely unexpected that some would be tossed in her direction.

With any luck at all on Saturday Green will begin a slide into obscurity, a mere footnote in area political history with one asterick *

*Considered by many Price George residents to be the worst mayor in memory!

“In this region over the past few weeks there has been a rash of underground comments being made with a view to trying to discredit one or more of the candidates. Rarely a day has gone by without someone trying to get our news room to buy into a new bit of gossip with a view to publishing it and there by black balling a candidate.”

Great article, Ben. Couldn’t agree more.

I’m with bberlin992. Nick has stood above the politicking and has presented his case as a man of integrity, well qualified and able to represent ALL the voters in Cariboo-P.G. It’ll be a shame if he’s unsuccessful simply because CPC members flock to Todd, as a result of TJ “anointing’ him. I know everyone likes to back the winner, but TJ’s backing doesn’t necessarily make Todd the winner or the best man for the job. I urge voters not to vote “strategically” but for the best man; and in my view that is Nick Fedorkiw.

Sounds to me like the politicians have taken the Netflix series House Of Cards too literally, and are using it as a “how-to” manual of underhanded behaviour.

I completely agree with sparrow. Here’s hoping there’s enough votes to kick Green out.

You’re right Veritas about these nomination battles crossing other party lines. They had to bring in the police this weekend in Ottawa over the Liberal Party’s nomination of Andrew Leslie in Orleans. Seems the executive did to the other candidate what the Cariboo-PG executive did to PG Grewal. Different circumstances, but same outcome.

Some of the comments on here have been questionable. First of all when we comment on here be sure of your facts. I am not into bashing the candidates. I do my research and I have met and talked to Todd and Nick, and I am not a Green supporter to begin with. But I am definitely backing Todd Doherty, he is honest up front and he listens to the people. Todd will be there to help who ever he can, and his name does not appear in the paper or on TV. If any of you have any questions call Todd, he will be more than happy to talk to you. Just remember when this is over the truth shall prevail.

they are just following their great leader, Harper. Have fun.
Cheers

Im surprised that there is so much interest in getting this nomination. Its not like we are electing the Prime Minister of Canada. So its a good paying job, with a good pension and some perks. So what. There are many jobs that fit that description. Especially in Government.

So whats the big attraction??? Are we getting to the point, where we actually believe that an MP’s position from a Northern Interior Riding in the middle of BC, is such a prize?? If so then we certainly have lost our way.

We need representation, and the best representation is to have someone from this area elected along with the Government of the day. However for many years we elected representatives that were in opposition. There was very little difference between our opposition representatives, and our representatives that were in the Government. In other words, we got very little.

I think that we are getting to the point where politics are nothing more than a game we play because we have little else to do. Seems we no sooner get through one election, and we are going into another. We did the Provincial thing, then the Municipal, and now we go into the Federal.

We need more work done in the local areas by all our politicians, and perhaps a little less campaigning. After all the name of the game should be good Government as opposed to getting people elected for the wrong reasons.

The nomination process this week end, will decide who will represent this area in the next election. The next election will decide who will be our Government for the next four years, and then hopefully, we will get some rest from politics.

If Green gets the nomination, there is a good chance the Conservatives will lose the riding in the next federal election! Her reputation is well know in areas far outside of PG.

After Saturday night it will all be over and mostly forgotten until the next election.
When Shari loses and her political career is over there will be a sigh of relief.
As for dirty politics as mentioned many times above, Shari seems to have started that ball rolling long ago.
The largest number of people coming out to vote are not particularly supporting a single candidate but simply voting to keep Shari out.
Wait and see.

@GG2491 – I disagree. Both Nick and Todd are good listeners, so that is not a differentiating point. I understand from your comments on this website that you are big Doherty supporter. I was considering him. On a previous related story (I can’t find it now), he responded to an anti-Harris comment saying something about how he’d like to be judged on his capabilities, not on who endorses him. Initially, I thought “great, he is speaking to the people.” But just one week later I get a letter for him asking for my vote along with a sheet saying Dick Harris endorses him. So which is it?

Then he is very publicly about TJ, a man I could never support. Doherty lost my confidence. It’s like he is not sticking to what he believes in just so he can get the vote. I think part of Meisner’s point is the lengths people will go to just to win. I am off the fence and I am officially voting for Fedorkiw. I want someone who knows who they are, who they stand with, and what they stand for. It’s hard to keep faith in politicians who pander.

Not too hard to figure out by the comments who are not Conservative. At this time I would like to comment on our MP’s and MLA’s no matter what party they belong to, It is a lot of work with many hours involved. No matter what party, they have huge responsibilities. Mayor’s and Councillors too. They will never please everyone, I would never want to be in any of these positions. The easiest thing for people to do is complain about everything and everyone. We do have the right to voice our opinions, People who put their names forward for these positions, Koodos to all 3 candidates that are running in this election. They have the guts to do so. Do you? Just sayin And if you think you cab do a better job get on board and put your name forward

Has anyone else been getting the wrong dates and times for the votes…from the green camp once you state you are not voting that way?
Some of my friends have also been told from that camp that you can get your money refunded from the party if you are not voting for Mrs. Green.. this does seem like very unethical behaviour even from that group…

the cpc uses dirty tricks against one another, this is news? isn’t the cpc the party that ‘won’ the last ‘federal’ election using robo-calls to lie to voters? and isn’t the cpc the party the makes cash payments to senators? up to $90000 i have heard.

look up a wikipedia titled 2011_Canadian_federal_election_voter_suppression_scandal

this is normal for these guys, none of them should be complaining.

Whomever goes to Ottawa needs to be able to negotiate with several different parties. If you are not able to do that, I don’t care how nice you are, you are of no use to our region. Hopefully you don’t make people so upset during the negotiation they come back to attack you. Yes that was a bit of a dig.

In the first few years it is unlikely whomever we send will make much of a difference. The only difference will be locally, and the contacts they make in Ottawa. If you want to know who is best at that, go see them and spend 5 or 10 minutes.

It is the last week, so most will have decided who they will vote for; good, bad or indifferent. After an election is over sometimes people who get voted in are much less approachable. Understandably, they have a job to do and hopefully they are doing it.

If you are undecided go talk to people in the race. Most important VOTE.

Reading the ajiterator comments, I am definitely voting for Todd Doherty, !!!!! Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out!
Vote for Todd YES!!!!!!!

Conservative governments campaign on:
Small government-fail
No deficit-fail
Job creation- fail
Transparency-fail
Paying down debt-fail
Supporting troops-fail
Shrinking civil resvice payroll-fail

Sadly Party Politics blinds Canadians and a dead horse would win running under the CPC banner in this riding.

This government is a lapdog for the O&G industry. An industry worthy of support and development. But at what pace and what cost. With oil sinking, putting all our eggs in one basket is going to bite us in the ass.

So we will have a conservative MP in ottawa. Hopefully not Ms. Green.

Will the Cons be in power come next election? Then, I suppose, it won’t matter who is our MP if the CPC doesn’t pull off a win.

Senate scandals
A general war on science, research and development
Giving the Canadian Wheat Board to an American for free vs selling to Canadian farmers for a few hundred million

Sorry guys, you lost me when you lost the “progressive” from the party agenda.

This is great people are talking and taking notice! Nick has got my vote, if not him please Todd over Green.

Palopu – “We need representation, and the best representation is to have someone from this area elected along with the Government of the day.”

So what has Dick Harris done for this riding while Harper has been in power?

Ibear. Dick did not do a whole lot. On the other hand what did you ask him to do??? If you have a list of things you want the new guy to do, lets hear it.

We like to bitch, bellyache, and complain, however we seldom get off our butts and go after the politicians to do something for us.

A prime example would be right now, when we have two MP’s in Government, two MLA’s. What are they doing for us???? Have you heard anything from Mike Morris since he’s been elected.??? What files is he working on??? How about Shirley?? Heard anything from her lately.??? What about Christy Clark??? She has only been in the legislature 8 Times since October.??

Once we elect these politicians WE let them off the hook by completely ignoring them until the next election. So I would say there is enough blame to go around.