THE CITIZEN, Prince George — Friday, November 16, 1984 — 11 NO BIG SWITCH, SAYS NDP CHIEF Socred defeats kept in perspective VANCOUVER (CP) — Premier Bill Bennett’s Social Credit government had its wrists slapped in two recent byelections, but the results are unlikely to signal a change in British Columbia’s political climate. While the Socreds expected to lose in the New Democrat stronghold of Vancouver East, Bennett’s troops were distinctly surprised when voters in Okanagan North backed the NDP after 32 years with Social Credit. Some New Democrats hail the win in Okanagan North — next to Bennett’s own riding — as a repudiation of the government’s program of cuts and reform of social legislation. But Bob Skelly, the pragmatic NDP leader, is reluctant to suggest the wins in the Nov. 8 byelections are anything more than a mild rebuke for the government. Socreds still easily control the 57-member legislature with 34 seats to the NDP’s 22 and one Independent. Bennett didn’t campaign in either riding and he was vacation- by DAPHNE B RAM HAM ing in Palm Springs, Calif., on voting day. Skelly says there is no indication of a massive switch that could sweep the NDP to power in the next provincial election, which isn’t expected until after the government has welcomed the world to Expo 86 in Vancouver. He abides by the established theory that people who protest against a government in byelections don’t necessarily want to dump it out of office when a general election comes along. Since Skelly came from third place to win the NDP leadership in March, he has tried to carve a role for himself as the rational leader unafraid of compromise and consultation. He knows a five-per-cent swing in popular support could mean victory for the NDP because that is the margin that separated them from the Socreds in the 1983 provincial election. Skelly is daring in his attempt to show himself as a concilia- tor and to soften the uncompromising image of socialist government built by former NDP leader Dave Barrett. In an unprecedented move this fall, Skelly courted Socreds at their own convention. He wrote to delegates pinpointing 18 resolutions that his party also supports, saying that with the right leader there is common ground for com- promise. The role of mediator is also the wav Liberal Leader Art Lee tried to cast himself during his unsuccessful bid to win Vancouver East. Lee, on the other hand, is still trying to rally the demoralized Liberal troops after their trouncing in the September federal election. And, like his predecessors, the provincial Liberal leader cannot look confidently to the federal party for support. On the night of the overwhelming federal defeat, John Turner told the country from his riding in Vancouver Quadra that he would do everything necessary to rebuild the Liberals federally and provincially. But scheduling problems during Turner’s first visit to Vancouver since the federal election kept him from appearing at Lee’s nomination meeting. Liberals are putting on a brave face. Lee ran second to high- profile Bob Williams of the NDP in Vancouver East and that, they say, is a first step to revival. But Williams’s vote total was almost double that of Lee, although Lee had represented the constituency for one term in Parliament. The riding also has a large Chinese population who in the past supported the Chinese-Ca-nadian leader. Lee’s failure to get elected and the apparent failure of the federal party to give substantial support to the provincial party indicate the prospect of the Liberals emerging as a viable third party in British Columbia remains remote. Both the Socreds and the NDP are banking on that. 1 SUPPORT THE BLOCK PARENT ASSOCIATION FULL GOSPEL BUSINESSMEN’S FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL Invites you to join us for: Breakfast: Sat. 8-10 a.m. * PG Hotel Lunch: Tues. 12-1 p.m. * Ricky’s Pancake House Banquet: Coming this month: Speaker Ralph Marlnaccl Frl., Dec. 14th Inn of the North 7:00 p.m. 'Good News" Watch Ch. 10 Tues. 9 p.m. & Thurs. 11 a.m. 564-7774 or 564-5257 Re-Elect GORDON INGALLS School Trustee EXPERIENCE: —25 years in education as student, teacher, instructor, administration, school trustee & parent. Paid for by Gordon Ingalls Buy now ami »■>“.“ ?'* ^Vho^and on our great Mazda lmc-up.-.snop compare. We know we can t bebea^ 1984 MAZDA 628 LX DBUO TOURING SEDAN • Sunroof • Cruise Control • Air Conditioning • Electric Windows & Mirrors • Dolby AM/FM Cassette - Graphic Equalizer • Power Brakes & Steering • Mag Wheels PRINCE QEORQE WAS: $17,995.00 ON SALE *14,888 ■ . CAN DEPEND ON IJS liliiiiililllH jHliiiiMnitiili jjljili • i* ti iilliijlpfil! p V" ! * i : ^ Mil ||i]i|ii|i!i| ........................ 564-7667 1822 oneign car centre Itd/’ssnsr HIS RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF We Support Alderman John Backhouse Bob Waghorn Andy Kenway Maurice Ethier Sheldon Perison Pat Pinko Derrell Close Bob Wanamaker William Watson Thomas Ormiston Murray A. Bleich Sherry Raskob Jim Hoyer Lorraine Chartrand Dean Hewitt Ken MacAdam Ken Stahl Lorna Kidd James A. Best L.G. Pattie A. Morrey Donna Sacuta Dan Clements Jim Mischook Donn Stanley Beverley Heslip Susan Pattie G. Dinsmore Bill Gaal John L. Hurren Howard German Marilyn Marsh Charles Hatherly J.D. Greenley Andy Kozyniak Lois Boone Steve Koerner Carmen Battista Sharon Dixie Audrey Tojaga G. Koch M. Balcaen R. Trujillo Lesley Ward Kevin Sanregret Nick Ntapas Terry Arndt Harry Backlin Marie Kozyniak Don McDonald Ray Stene Frank Bauer Nancy Lang Carol Horwood Glen Wallace W.B. Bailey F.R. Bisenberger Carol Bailey Ken Andrist Murray Odegaard David Sheard Bill Karpes Karen Karpes Dave Latham Penny Latham Ernie Myers Diana Myers Dave Pearson Herb Maxwell Steve Wood Alistair McVey Ron Carson Dr. J.P. Staniland Annette Hansen Annette Madam Tony Stefanik Leslie R. Fortune Kerry M. Fortune Harnek S. Maan Ajmel S. Dhillon Gurjit Manhas Charanjir Parmar Sarabjit Parmar Prem Parmar Kishan Parmar Ram S. Manhas Bob Holtby Peter Glover Jan-Udo Wenzel Linda M. Wenzel Brian Gardiner Peter Terwoort Janice Wharrie Linda Skuggedal Arne Skuggedal Stuart Berry Diana Berry Joyce Clugston Peter Clugston Terry Hunter Sheila Lyttle Colin Lyttle Jan Snyder Earl Mattenley Jim Briggs Avril Briggs Shona Fallan Tom Fallon Linda Raven Don Wagner Nettie Wagner Bob Steventon Roy Liden Shirley Liden Earl J. Steele Jeff T. Bredo Russ Wilkins Teresa Bartrim Gary Bartrim John R. Balkcom Pete Foster Bruce V. Swan Thom Aldoff Donna Fennell A. Leier Nim Myton Al Leveridge Marg Leveridge Paul Seens Gwen Abram Ida Fensom Glenys Hogan Rhonda Pearson Melanie Tsunoda Kari Pimlott Brenda Borden Shyam Minhas Harold Unwin Duane Johnson Rosalind Faasse Cindy Hill John Crow Bob Nelson Sam Fefferman Ben Malcolm Dave Ritchie Gail Ritchie Alana Mero Surjit Minhas Kilharo M. Coombs Ted Sadler Harry Cunningham Tom Leboe Jean Leboe Verle Carlson Phillip Shaw Jean Staniland Philip Ross Phil Ramage Randy Pearson Marj Drummond Joanne Makowsky Kathy Ruffle Kathy Plett Maureen Iverson Des Parker Nora Harmider Mark Cafley Diane Rosebrugh Lois Rubadeau D. Hanning Peter Thrift Jaye Stefanik J.K. Caldwell M.M. Hanning John Haker Vicki Haker Ron Manning Jan Manning Gordon Botten Joan Botten David Ramsay Paula Gallagher Audrey Linnes Denise Volpert Anne Rowe Blaine Rowe Charlie Freeman R.J. Summers Peter MacLaurin Dianne MacLaurin Brian Hughes Doug Johnston Dick Shaw Joy McKinnon Arnie Brown Fran Gibbins Chris Ward Ruth Korum R.L. Rosebrugh Margaret Dunlop David Dunlop Barb Endean Tom Endean Peggy Kent Ellie Grogan Tom Grogan Fran Smeele Lome Houston Dian Houston ON NOVEMBER 17 RE-ELECT Paid for by the committee to re-elect John Backhouse Mike Fennell Mike Doering Dale Kronebusch W. Shaw Don Witala John Stiles Lee Painchaud Terry Gladesdahl Jeff Rowland Warren McLean Jeff Shaw Mike Dornbierer Don McNeil J. Smith Mark Hill Elden Gierde Lyle Nesbitt Floyd Stene Chris Boyle Georges Sauve Christine MacLeod Alf Berry John R. Scott Grace Vallee Carmen Parrish Judi Zirnhelt Georgie Boyle David Parrish Linda Wickstrom Dan Wolsfeld Winnie Keeler Jack Keeler Gary Campbell Shirley Fournier Alex Lutz Helen Lutz Betty Elson Jim Elson Mary Jean Elson David Elson Leota Haaerman Elwood Hagerman Vicky Backhouse C J. McCaffray Jim Blake Don Anderson Eleanor Murray Sharon Delaney Sandy Kohorst Ralph Maida Jenny Somero David Wharrie Rod Maides Lorraine Winthrope Michael Hill Leslie MacBurney T. Stageberg Dale Gruntman Laurier Rivet Dr. Duane Rubadeau Peter Applejohn HE GETS THE JOB DONE