John Crosbie former conservative minister under Brian Mulroonny, and now Lt governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, said of the NDP,” they’re everyone’s choice between elections. If there were elections between elections then they would be in great shape.” Well for Skeena- Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen he is living Crosbie’s prophesy. Three elections in over four years and is seemingly getting stronger and stronger in a unorthodox riding.

The riding  is one of the largest in BC if not all of Canada covering such wide ranging communities as Prince Rupert home of a  newly modernized and expanded container port, Terrace and nearby Kitimat which has benefited from the to be billion dollar Alcan nickel processing plant expansion. Along with Smithers a alpine themed community that is the hub for the increasing mineral exploration activity.

In addition, the riding boasts a aboriginal population that is well above the average of other races in the country. One of the more noteworthy first nations peoples being the Nisga of the Nass Valley which were  the first in British Columbia to be granted self government and has been a template for other first nations agreements across Canada.

Along with the crippled forest community that can be seen in various communities like Houston, Burns Lake, the riding poses a vast array of issues and people that rival many large urban centres .

From that backdrop the candidates, all five of them, have a tough task in delivering a narrative that can encompass as many voters as possible. This riding has a Liberal Candidate Corriane Morhart who is so unknown that the Smithers Interior News Newspaper failed to mention her in the list of candidates. The Green Candidate Hondo Arenot is a Prince Rupert political science instructor  whose likely voter is being squeezed by the NDP’s Cullen who just happens to be the parties very capable environment critic.

With regards to the right leaning candidates there are two interesting choices. Rod Taylor is a local standard-bearer of the far right Christian Heritage Party, and is a candidate for its national leadership. Taylor is a likable guy but running for the wrong party is the majority view as that stature is aimed at earning as many votes from the conservatives as possible. In this election, that result may produce a greater degree of success as the conservatives counter with Houston’s Mayor Sharon Smith. She is a contender, however her success hinges on her ability to garner support in the coastal regions and first nation community that have been primarily supporting Cullen.

From personal observation the conservatives have a uphill challenge to unseat Cullen, all bias aside. Upon driving  from Smithers to Terrace on Friday past Smithers Airport I failed to see a hwy campaign sign for anyone other than Nathan Cullen  and the New Democrats. In a large spread out riding as Skeena-Bulkley Valley a strong party  organization thoughout the entire region is key, and the Cullen’s team is as strong as it gets. Either that or nobody told the other candidates that there was a election between elections.