Prince George, B.C. – AiMHi is presenting yet another chance for residents to hear from candidates running for office in this year’s provincial election.

Spokesperson Fred McLeod says an all-candidates forum will take place next Thursday, April 27, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the AiMHi gymnasium at 950 Kerry Street.

He says candidates from the Prince George-Valemount and Prince George-Mackenzie ridings have been invited to attend.

“The concept of the meeting will be ‘You can measure a society by how well it treats the weakest.’ And that’s what we want to do is examine how a government, as MLAs, will these representatives represent the weakest members of the community and those who are the most disadvantaged.”

McLeod says NDP candidates, Natalie Fletcher (PG-Valemount) and Bobby Deepak (PG-Mackenzie) have confirmed their attendance along with Green candidate Nan Kendy (PG-Valemount).

Hilary Crowley, who just declared her candidacy for the BC Greens in Prince George-Mackenzie is unable to make it and BC Liberal candidates Mike Morris (PG-Mackenzie) and Shirley Bond (PG-Valemount) won’t either.

He says the Liberals were provided with four possible dates in mid-March but were told by the Liberal campaign this week neither will be attending.

McLeod says he’s disappointed. “Absolutely, but we will continue without them. The challenges that people are facing are huge and they need to have an opportunity for those challenges to be brought to the fore in an election period and if government candidates choose not to be there I think it sends a statement.”

He says one of the biggest challenges facing the disadvantaged in all B.C. communities is the monthly payment of $1,033 persons with disabilities receive each month. That sum was bumped up $50 a month April 1, 2017.

There are two other all-candidates forums scheduled to take place prior to the May 9 election in Prince George – next Tuesday morning from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the Ramada Hotel and May 2 at 6 p.m. in UNBC’s Canfor Theatre.