A packed house at the Pender Harbour Legion on Oct. 8 set the stage for a spirited all-candidates’ debate hosted by PHARA. The four candidates vying for the Powell River–Sunshine Coast seat tackled key issues, with much of the discussion focused on the contentious Dock Management Plan (DMP) and the province’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).
Randene Neill of the NDP pledged to address community concerns about DRIPA, while Green candidate Chris Hergesheimer emphasized better provincial programs, Conservative Chris Moore criticized NDP governance, and Independent Greg Reid advocated for direct democracy.
Audience questions covered health care, housing, and road maintenance, with lively exchanges throughout the two-and-a-half-hour session.
On Oct. 19, Neill won in a landslide and was later appointed Minister of Land, Water, and Resource Stewardship—a significant win for the local community.
