Hill Addresses P.G. Tories

Friday, March 11, 2011 09:30 PM

Prince George, B.C.- Former Prince George- Peace River M.P. Jay Hill received a standing ovation as he addressed the candidates meeting in Prince George tonight.

He told the gathering he is more relaxed, “I am a bit more relaxed this time, than I was at the one in 1992.” That was the only nomination campaign he had to undergo “I had to go through it in 1992 and that was more than enough thank you very much.” That was May 1st of 1992, when he and three others waited to see who would be the Conservative candidate for the riding.

Hill won that nomination, and the following election, and served at M.P. for the riding for 17 years.

Hill says a nomination campaign is much more difficult because all candidates all share the same principles and it ends up being how you can make yourself stand out from the others.

Hill thanked all in attendance for their support over the years. It was his retirement from his position as M.P. October 25^th of 2010 which led to the nomination meeting underway in Prince George.

He said when asked why he left in the middle of a term, he said he wanted to chose his own time of departure, and wanted to leave on a high, “Some politicians stay beyond their welcome.” He says he could see the job wasn’t going to change much, and minority governments are very taxing, that a minority government situation was very stressful, and as House Leader “You are at the epicenter of that stress every day.”

He added that he knew he wasn’t going to run again, and wanted to step down and step away knowing there would be enough time for a new candidate to be selected.

Hill says the highlight not just of his political career, but of his life, was the trip he took to Afghanistan to visit the Canadian troops one Christmas "You can debate whether or not we should be there, but there is no debate among those troops. Those young men and women know why they're there, they live it every day."

Hill says he is very concerned about voter apathy, "It's showing again, even in this race, I don't know what the final results will be, but I think it will be about 40%.(voter turnout) This apathy is terrible."

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Posted on Friday, March 11, 2011 09:30 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Surefire on March 11 2011 10:41 PM

I wish that I were there, I would have asked him why Canada's injured vets are paid a lump sum for their injuries rather than a monthly sum as that was whyat they wanted so they can depend on a monthly cheque to take care of their needs. Our veterans took care of buisness in Afgahnistan and they only expect the same courtisy if they should come home sick or injured. They were recieving a monthly income cheque until someone in government decided to change that, probably thinking it should save the government a pile of cash. He wasn't thinking at all. Our veterans need a monthly cheque so they can live in dignity for the rest of what's left of their lives. They went through hell in Afgahnistan at least we can ensure that they aren't put through hell when they get back to Canada.

Posted by: supertech on March 11 2011 11:14 PM

we should have never been in Afgahnistan. It was none of our business and we have accomplished nothing except for the deaths of Canadians. How shameful to let them fend for themselves after what they have endured.

Posted by: socredible on March 12 2011 8:05 AM

Afghanistan is only a 'live fire' exercise for what's coming. It's principal value to us is that we can now more readily identify the deficiencies in military equipment, preparedness and planning. And that we have a substantial cadre of Forces personnel who've actually been in combat.

We could move to stave off what's coming next, but we won't. We destroyed Europe twice last century when 'trade' war escalated into 'military' war ~ and we didn't learn a damned thing. So the process will be repeated, only with a different choice of principal protagonists and battle zones.

The build-up to it has already begun. China, just this past week, announced a large increase in its military spending. Soon the supposedly nearly bankrupt basket-case to the south of us will move to counter. The trillions of bucks by which it is now said to be in the hole by will have all the financial signifigance of pocket change.

While we're doing our bit, with orders for mega billions worth of new fighter jets. If we won't, or believe we can't, change course, we might as well have a fighting chance. So why complain? For what will our vets get if we lose in what's coming? Or the rest of us?