The Provincial Election will be held on Saturday, October 19th.
My Nechako Valley Now has reached out to each candidate running for MLA in the Nechako Lakes riding for their response to the following questions:
- Tell us about yourself
- What do you think is the most important issue for the area and why?
- Why should someone vote for you?
- Are there any final thoughts on any topic that you would like to share?
In alphabetical order (Last Name):
Murphy Abraham, BC NDP:
Murphy Abraham is a dedicated community leader in Burns Lake and across the Nechako Lakes region.
You can count on Murphy to take action to support families. With his wife of ten years, Fern, Murphy shares a blended family of two sons, a daughter, and a grandchild. Embracing a sober lifestyle, they are also proud foster parents to their niece and three nephews. For seven years as a recreation coordinator for Lake Babine Nation, Murphy successfully ran sports and cultural programs for local children and youth.
Murphy also knows that people need a government that has their back, investing in public services they can count on. In 2018, he took leadership to do just that – elected as Woyenne Councillor, and later as Chief. Murphy was pivotal in securing $50 million to build community cultural centers, as well as overseeing a 20,000-hectare land transfer to return territory to the Lake Babine Nation. His commitment to community development continues to make a lasting impact.
Murphy Abraham’s website can he found here.
Douglas Gook, BC Greens:
I’m a third-generation settler who has lived all my 64 years in the Cariboo and Nechako Lakes region of BC. I have two adult children and two grandchildren who are the inspiration for my lifetime of activism which has been dedicated to creating a healthy ecology and thriving communities for all of our children’s future.
I’m a biodynamic gardener, EcoForestry practitioner and mirth promoter. I’m a strong promoter of cooperatives, community consensus democracy, local food security and arts/culture. You can find my booth at a variety of Farmers Markets throughout the North.
I wildcraft chaga and an array of non-timber forest products. I was a founding member of the Cariboo Horse Logging Association which championed employment intensive Natural Selection Forestry starting in 1980. These solutions based ‘value added’ forest management system actually promotes high quality timber growth which could supply timber for a sustainable value-added wood products manufacturing sector that is the key for revitalizing all our communities.
After the 2014 Imperial Metals Mt Polley Mine disaster I’ve been very active with the BC Mining Law Reform Network to come up with changes to the BC Mines Act to hopefully prevent such disasters from ever happening again.
Our climate instability, biodiversity decimation and intergenerational inequality are just symptoms of Overshoot. As North Americans, we are major contributors to this overconsumption affliction. I’ve realized this from the 1970’s and have pursued a ‘voluntary simplicity’ lifestyle to ‘Live Simply so others can Simply Live’ to lead by example.
I grow most of my own food. I’m a self-directed lifelong learner where I read a book a week on average. I play the mouth drum, flute, violin and hand drums and I love to jam and dance. I volunteer at many festivals and events. And I prize my Grampa duties for my 2-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter and six-month-old grandson.
Douglas Gook’s website can be found here.
John Rustad, BC Conservatives (Incumbent, Party Leader):
John Rustad is running for re-election as the Conservative MLA for Nechako Lakes – a riding he has held since 2005.
John was born and raised in Prince George, married Kim in 1995, and has spent his entire life living in northern British Columbia. However, in the early 2000s, John was faced with a difficult task. Frustrated with the direction the province was headed, John had to decide between leaving for greener pastures or sticking around. Thankfully, he decided to stick around and, in so doing, decided to fight for BC.
For more than 20 years, John has fought for the people of British Columbia. First being elected as a school board trustee to SD-57 and then as an MLA in 2005 to the riding of Prince George–Omineca. Later being re-elected in the riding of Nechako Lakes, after riding redistribution and has served there ever since.
John has been a champion of resource development and economic reconciliation, as well as the champion of the common man his entire time in office.
As Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, John signed 435 agreements with First Nations–More than any other Canadian politician in modern history.
These agreements have created economic opportunities for not only the province but also the nations involved.
Prior to being elected, John had worked in the forestry industry for more than 20 years. He formed a technology company, Western Geographic Information Systems Inc., a consulting service for the resource sector. He helped create opportunities, jobs, and sustained growth for forestry, bringing prosperity to his community and the province.
After becoming an independent MLA, John joined the Conservative Party of BC because he realized that he must continue to fight and that he couldn’t do it alone.
On March 24, 2023, John Rustad announced his intention to seek the leadership of the Conservative Party and on March 31, he became leader.
John Rustad’s website can be found here.
2. What do you think is the most important issue for the area and why?
Murphy Abraham
There are many important issues, but forestry is one of the biggest concerns I’m hearing about. Forestry is foundational to BC, and especially to folks in the north. We’re determined to support forestry workers and communities as they face big challenges – low lumber prices, punishing softwood lumber tariffs, the end of the beetle kill harvest, and unprecedented wildfires.
That’s why we’re taking action to build a strong forestry sector, with good jobs for the long term. Getting fibre out of the bush that was wasted when John Rustad was at the Cabinet table. Protecting local jobs by curbing raw log exports that Rustad allowed. Incentivizing wood building and mass timber. And supporting made-in-BC wood products through our BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, which is protecting and creating over 3,000 forestry jobs.
When John Rustad was in government, nearly 30,000 jobs were lost and dozens of mills were closed without any supports for workers, as he shipped away raw logs and BC jobs. Rustad couldn’t even be bothered to visit Vanderhoof after the recent mill closure there – he failed forestry workers and communities before, and he’ll do so again.
Healthcare is another big one – it should always be there when you need it, and I understand the stress and frustration caused by emergency room closures. We need our ERs open, and that’s why we’re training and hiring doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers at a record pace – and providing incentives to attract and retain them in rural areas like ours. And we’re ensuring that everyone in Nechako Lakes who wants a family doctor or nurse practitioner will be connected to one by the end of next year. There’s no doubt we’re facing challenges right now, but John Rustad’s cuts and his plans for American-style healthcare would mean firing doctors and nurses and would make things far worse.
Douglas Gook
Top of the list would be dealing with the negative impacts on forest and community sustainability after decades of corporate capture and capital/wealth flight. Over 50 mills have shut down in BC since 2000 and John Rustad as Nechako Lakes MLA and now leader of the fledgling BC Conservatives, has done everything asked of him by these corporations to speed up this short rotation corporate industrial fibre mining that’s devastated our forests and our communities.
Theres a better way. I believe everyone in Nechako Lakes has part of the solution and bringing our impacted communities together to further a comprehensive transition strategy is crucial. My Lived Experience with EcoForestry and the GPBC Forest policies and my commitment to initiating Community Consensus Democracy council’s will assist in implementing the solutions so our forests and communities can once again thrive.
Working with First Nations for full reconciliation, not just economic reconciliation, would also be a top priority.
Making health care, education needs, dealing with poverty, housing needs, seniors issues, disability issues and cost of living issues would all be priorities and the GPBC plan is comprehensive and solutions based.
John Rustad
Two of the most important issues facing the Nechako Lakes community are the decline of forestry and the broken healthcare system. People across our riding are struggling to make ends meet as mills close and the cost of living continues to rise after seven years of the NDP. Meanwhile, access to healthcare has become increasingly challenging.
The forestry sector is the traditional backbone of Nechako Lakes’ economy. Unfortunately, the NDP has imposed policies that have resulted in a two-thirds reduction in BC’s forestry industry, with devastating consequences. Under the NDP, it has become more difficult to access fibre, operational costs have skyrocketed, and red tape has added delays.
The forestry sector in BC is not just an economic driver; it produces some of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly products in the world. Instead of supporting this vital industry, the NDP has undermined it, forcing sawmills to close and jobs to disappear. Nine major sawmills have shut down in the past 18 months alone due to NDP policies.
My commitment as Leader of the Conservative Party of BC is to rebuild our forestry sector. We will streamline permitting processes, cut unnecessary regulations, and ensure sustainable fibre is readily available. By reducing costs and delays, we will put people back to work and restore confidence in the industry. I will champion policies that make BC a leader in resource development, unlocking our mining and forestry sectors, while empowering First Nations as partners in our economic future.
Nechako Lakes has seen a significant decline in the availability of healthcare services after 7 years of the NDP. Residents often face long wait times, while recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals remains an uphill battle.
Conservatives are committed to tackling these issues by taking a “Patients First” approach to healthcare. We will provide funding to support rural healthcare facilities, invest in recruiting and retaining healthcare workers, and expand telehealth options. We will also collaborate with First Nations and other partners to ensure healthcare is culturally appropriate and accessible to everyone in the region.
As your MLA and Leader of the Conservative Party of BC, I will fight to ensure healthcare services are accessible and our forestry sector is revitalized. It’s time for a common sense conservative government that prioritizes the well-being of the people and industries that make Nechako Lakes thrive.
3. Why should someone vote for you?
Murphy Abraham
My roots in this community run deep. I know people here are facing big challenges. And, as part of David Eby’s BC NDP team, I’m ready to tackle those challenges head-on, by building affordable homes, hiring doctors and nurses, supporting forestry workers and communities, continuing on the path of reconciliation and partnership, and helping folks out with the cost of living.
My opponent, John Rustad, has spent his entire political career in the pocket of powerful interests. The last time he was in power, he raised fees on regular people, gave tax breaks to the top 2%, and cut the services people rely on. And this election it’s more of the same – he’s promising to hike ICBC rates by $500, cut healthcare by $4.1 billion, and cancel the 300,000 affordable new homes that are on the way under our housing plan.
John Rustad is still focused on dividing communities, rather than bringing people together. Instead of building strong relationships with Indigenous Peoples, he’d take us back to conflicts and fighting in court – an approach that didn’t work for people or the economy. That’s a risk the people of Nechako Lakes can’t afford.
Douglas Gook
In 1983 the first Green Party in North America was formed here in BC and two months after, I along with a group of friends formed the Quesnel Green Party’ and I’ve been actively promoting these Green Party solutions ever since. I’ve been a GPBC candidate numerous times and ran in Nechako Lakes in the 2017 BC election. I would be honoured to be the Nechako Lakes MLA and will guarantee better representation than what you’ve had in the past.
This region and BC have been severely impacted by the resource plunder and corporate capture of previous BC governments. I fully back the BC Wellbeing Framework outlined in the GPBC platform that will measure what a true revitalized ecology and thriving people centred government could deliver.
I’m very concerned about the damaged state of our ecology, our communities and all of our childrens’ futures. I wish for all the good people of Nechako Lakes to seriously check out the 2024 BC Greens platform. It is an evidence and solutions filled blueprint for a healthy people and community based future. The ‘Business As Usual’ BAU parties (NDP, Liberals, BC United and Conservatives) are sadly lacking any long term vision with their governance track record and in their platforms. My Lived Experience, the BC Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau and the great slate of GPBC candidates are the best solution for dealing with the challenging issues facing our province.
John Rustad
As the long-time MLA for Nechako Lakes, I have prided myself on being an advocate for our community in Victoria. Throughout my tenure, I have been a champion of resource development and economic reconciliation.
I first got into politics because I was concerned with the direction of this province. I have some concerns once again.
After 7 years of the NDP, we have more drugs on our streets, our resource sectors are struggling, our healthcare system is in crisis and so many are struggling to afford basic necessities.
One in two young British Columbians are seriously considering leaving, private sector jobs are disappearing at a rate of tens of thousands per month, living standards decline each year, and the government is going broke even as it fails to deliver on its core obligations to people.
As the leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, I will be able to be a strong voice for not only the people of Nechako Lakes, but all British Columbians.
It’s time to bring back common sense, refocus government on delivering real results, and build a future where every British Columbian has the opportunity to thrive. What you can expect from me and my government is a focus on practical solutions that get the job done.
British Columbians deserve better than our current trajectory. We deserve a government that leads on the premise that not only can our problems be fixed, but that BC is one of the rare places in the world that has all the ingredients for people to build the life of their dreams.
As your MLA for Nechako Lakes, I promise a Conservative Government led by me will bring back private sector job growth, fix our healthcare system so you can access the care you need, get the drugs off our streets and make our communities safe again.
4. Any final thoughts or comments?
Murphy Abraham
Nechako Lakes is my home. It’s a wonderful place to live and to raise a family. But people and communities here need a fresh voice in Victoria. John Rustad has been MLA for this riding ever since it was created, and his track record of costs and cuts speaks for itself. We know exactly what he’ll do if he’s elected, because he’s done it before – his government cost people more and cut the things that really matter to families. Tax breaks for those at the top, paid for by regular folks. He’s done it before and he’ll do it again.
We need to move on from John Rustad. My whole career has been spent working to make life better for people here. I have deep roots in this community and, if you elect me as your MLA, I will fight every day on the side of the people of Nechako Lakes, taking real action to help folks get ahead and build a good life. That’s the choice voters face in this election.
Douglas Gook
As your MLA I will work hard to be your Nechako Lakes representative in Victoria. Immediately after October 19th, Election Day, I would be available to every constituent and community;
to assist with a juste transition strategy for those most impacted by CANFOR’s mill closure announcement in Vanderhoof,;
- to get a better RBA deal for our region
- to deal with the ‘brownfields’ issues in our communities.
- to work hard for the solutions outlined in the BC Green Party platform.
to initiate the Community Consensus Democracy option for every neighbourhood to better implement the solutions so all people can thrive.
As someone who has lived a Voluntary Simplicity life, I also commit to passing on a third of my MLA salary back to charities in the Nechako Lakes riding for as long as I would be your MLA.
John Rustad
British Columbians deserve better than what we’ve gotten after seven years of the NDP. We deserve a government that listens, understands our struggles, and takes action to make our lives better—not one that burdens us with increasing costs, hollow promises, and policies that fail to deliver real results.
My commitment to Nechako Lakes is to bring common sense back to government. That means being laser focused on what truly matters to people: affordability, access to healthcare, safer communities, and economic opportunity for all. Our Conservative team is ready to take action on Day 1 to reduce costs for families, fix our healthcare system, support resource development, and empower communities across the province.
This election is about putting people first and creating a government that works for all of us, not just a select few. I am confident that together, we can build a future where every British Columbian has the opportunity to thrive, where our communities are safe, and where our children and grandchildren can envision a bright future in a province we are proud to call home.
Let’s bring back common sense, refocus the government on getting results, and build the British Columbia we all know is possible—one where everyone, no matter where they live, can get ahead and enjoy a good quality of life. But I can’t do that alone, I need everyone to get out and vote on election day – that’s Saturday October 19th. If you want common sense change to come to British Columbia, vote conservative!
Editor’s note: My Nechako Valley Now would like to thank the four candidates for taking the time to respond to our questions. Reading their responses should better prepare each voter for the candidate of their choice.
Voting stations will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday at the following locations:
Something going on in the Nechako Valley area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
- Cluculz Lake Comm Hall – 3385 Lund Rd, Mapes
- David Hoy Elem School – 450 Birch St W, Fort St. James
- Elder’s Centre – 4228 Felix Rd, Tachie
- Fort Fraser Comm Hall – 470 Corporation St, Fort Fraser
- Kwah Hall – 285 Kwah Rd E Fort St., James
- Mapes Elem School – 14907 Mapes Rd, Mapes
- Nadleh Whut’en Yah Gym – 823 Nautley Rd, Fraser Lake
- Nechako Senior Citizen Hall – 219 Victoria St E, Vanderhoof
- Royal Canadian Legion 274 – 165 Chowsunket St, Fraser Lake
- Saik’uz First Nation Band Office – 135 Joseph St, Vanderhoof
- Sinkut View Elem School – 3348 Sinkut View Rd, Vanderhoof
