“All Politics is local” is a saying coined most notably by famed former house of representative speaker Tip O’Neill. That phrase is a apt one when discussing most ridings in this federal election. For our political system magnifies the local aspect by electing local MP’S, whose total make up determine the shape of our government. In this election there are a number of key ridings where local issues and backdrops take a larger scope in determining the next parliament in Canada.

In Skeena-Bulkley Valley, and more specifically the greater Smithers area the local question is which candidate can garner a larger national profile that can be used to further the local agenda? Does a member of the governing party have more influence in gaining attention to local dilemmas than a strong advocate that represents the fourth party in Parliament? Is a lower level government insider or a leading opposition member better for the electorate of Skeena-Bulkley Valley. That is what this localized  Conservative Sharon Smith- New Democrat Nathan Cullen campaign is all about.

From the last parliament leading to this election the governing conservatives have staked their claim upon making Smith the chioce of those insisting that only a governing member can best represent the local interest. One example of this thinking was the announcing of funding commitment for a runway extension to the Smithers airport. This commitment was marked by a public relations ceremony last August by all elected officials with the notable exception of MP Cullen. To add more salt to the wound was announcement by Conservative MP Dick Harris that Smith was to be the “liaison to the federal government”

In political terms, the funding  deal, which was portrayed to have less to do with our New Democrat MP and more to do with Smiths lobbying which could be a beacon for future government largesse through her appointed role.  To many it smacked a level of arrogance on the conservatives who seemed quite agreeable to by-passing the will of the electorate. Build your candidate up as a insider who delivers was the Harris mantra which continued in further public forums like a interview with CBC radio.

I wrote a letter expressing my dismay with the arrangement as it was painted in such a way that discredited Cullens, and for that matter the entire local effort in lobbying for the funding.  Government self-congratulation is nothing new, but the shutting out of the elected force behind the announcement by unduely elevating you future candidate was outside the realm of acceptable political brinkmanship.

Cullen has been a strong advocate for the region , a claim that can be accepted by even many of those who of  a differnt political stripe. I have talked to many of differing walks of life and concluded that our member has a stature that is higher than the New Democratic party in the riding.

I may appear to be a little partisan with the perspective but the raw fact is that this riding is not wooed by the allusions or real strength of having a governing member. Only a short run by Liberal Iona Campanolla in the seventies has altered the ridings independent streak in voting for the advocate over the insider. Politics is local and if past elections are any indication then the October 14th  will further reinforce the ridings independant streak. However as a born Newfoundlander adopted Smithereen the tide is always up for change.