By Greg Fry

Federal politics

Independent candidate says more opportunities needed for youth

Apr 10, 2025 | 4:38 PM

QUESNEL — An independent candidate has stepped forward in the Cariboo-Prince George riding.

Kenneth B. Thomson is a Quesnel-based lawyer who says he’s worried about a generation of younger people not joining the workforce.

He says it’s alarming how many 18-24 year olds aren’t working and thinks homelessness and drug issues will only increase if we don’t provide them with adequate opportunities and housing.

“We have a lot of youth that are not developing skills, employable skills. They’re going to be ending up on the streets and if we think we’ve got a problem with homelessness now, we’re looking at something far worse coming up unless we start doing something as a nation.”

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Thomson says softwood lumber is another challenge facing the region, but thinks there could be employment opportunities there.

“A lot of people are employed in logging and trucking. The Americans need our lumber, they’re putting an import duty on it to protect their own but at the same time their own producers can’t provide all the wood that’s necessary. We should put an export duty on the wood and force the Americans to pay double duties so they reduce their duties and then, we could use the funds generated to develop secondary industries. Why don’t we try to compete with IKEA for providing furniture?”

Thomson is running against Conservative incumbent Todd Doherty, Liberal Clinton Wade Emslie, the NDP’s Angie Bonnazo, Jodie Capling of the Greens and Rudy Sans of the People’s Party of Canada.

Election day is scheduled for April 28.