Image Credit: Coralee Oakes

By Adam Berls

election 2024

Independent candidate Coralee Oakes campaign different than most

Oct 15, 2024 | 2:44 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — The provincial election is down to its final days and candidates are making their final pitches to voters.

In the riding of Prince George-North Cariboo, independent candidate and three term incumbent Coralee Oakes has had a different campaign than in years past, but is looking at the campaign in a new light and says that independents will have a major role to play.

Oakes was elected back in 2013 as a BC Liberal for the riding of Cariboo North and won the next two elections as a member of the BC Liberal. After BC United leader Kevin Falcon suspended the party’s campaign in August, Oakes decided to run as an independent candidate for the newly named riding of Prince George-North Cariboo.

“I think the most important thing I can focus on 100%, are issues in the North. I think that’s been a critical change where I can speak about, whether it’s health care, economic development or education, I can apply the northern lens on it and speak freely to it.” – Coralee Oakes

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Oakes says that the benefits of having an independent in the legislature, is that regional issues can be highlighted, whereas they may be overshadowed by bigger party issues.

“I think having experienced, individuals at the table to moderate to move legislation through the House, to make sure we stand up and question period and hold government to account as an independent, focused entirely on what’s happening in our ridings, is going to be critically important. We have the same ability as an independent to have question period. We debate bills, we bring in legislation. We have all of the same opportunities as an opposition member does. This election, as an independent, we have the opportunity to folks focus strictly on what’s happening in our riding. I think that that’s good for our constituents, but I also think it’s good for the province.”

Polling places are open from 8am to 8pm on Saturday, October 19th.

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X: @AdamBerls

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com