With the federal election out of the way, the B.C. Liberals and opposition New Democrats have launched their blitz campaigns for two provincial byelections later this month.
Premier Gordon Campbell joined former Vancouver Canucks' owner Arthur Griffiths, the Liberals' candidate in Vancouver-Burrard, and former B.C. Medical Association president Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid, who is running in Vancouver-Fairview.
Campbell cast the Oct. 29 byelections as a prelude to next May's provincial election, warning the New Democrats would raise taxes and roll back B.C.'s competitive business climate.
Just across the street from the hotel where Campbell spoke, NDP Leader Carole James said the byelections were a chance to send a message to the Liberal government for its inaction on homelessness, the carbon tax and problems in B.C. hospitals and long-term care facilities.
The New Democrats are fielding former Vancouver Park Board commissioner Spencer Herbert in Vancouver-Burrard and Jenn McGinn, a community activist and credit union accounts manager, in Vancouver-Fairview.
Campbell called the byelections on Oct. 1 after Liberal MLA Lorne Mayencourt quit to run unsuccessfully as a Conservative candidate and New Democrat Gregor Robertson resigned to run as mayor in Vancouver's municipal election next month.
