A new political party has sprouted up in B.C.
On Thursday (Sept. 6), Rural BC Party announced it will be on the ballot the next time British Columbians go to the polls in 2021.
Representatives will be advocating for folks in rural areas, according to the party's website.
"The Rural BC Party was founded in response to the growing concern that the existing major political parties are solely interested in supporting the voter-rich areas of the Lower Mainland and Southern Vancouver Island and have increasingly neglected rural B.C.," reads an online write-up.
"Too often the revenues generated from resources in rural B.C. are used to subsidize major projects in the Lower Mainland, while smaller communities throughout the province struggle to thrive."
Jonathan Van Barneveld, a councillor with the District of Houston and interim party leader, says it is important that rural communities are properly represented.
“The people of rural B.C. are no longer willing to sit on the political sidelines. We are a major economic driver of the province, but we are increasingly forgotten about and neglected," he says. "Many communities are on life support and have never had the opportunity, or the means, to diversify their economies and truly flourish.”
Join today and help us grow. #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/DovlFPJlvG
— Rural BC Party (@ruralbcparty) September 6, 2018
Van Barneveld already feels there will be a strong support for the party.
“The party is new and fresh, and we’re looking for everyone’s feedback, support and comments as we continue to grow and build our campaign,” he said.
Rural BC communities listed as part of the group's focus include:
- Boundary-Similkameen
- Cariboo-Chilcotin
- Cariboo North
- Columbia River-Revelstoke
- Fraser-Nicola
- Kamloops-North Thompson
- Kamloops-South Thompson
- Kootenay East
- Kootenay West
- Mid Island-Pacific Rim
- Nechako Lakes
- Nelson-Creston
- North Coast
- North Island
- Peace River North
- Peace River South
- Powell River-Sunshine Coast
- Prince George-Mackenzie
- Prince George-Valemount
- Shushwap
- Skeena
- Stikine
- Vernon-Monashee
