District of Mackenzie Mayor Joan Atkinson said she's not normally one for partisan politics, but her experience over the past 18 months has shown her that an NDP government is the right choice for B.C. and the north.
Atkinson is the NDP candidate in the Prince George-Mackenzie riding in the upcoming provincial election. She was acclaimed mayor of the hard-hit forestry town in 2018, after serving on the Mackenzie district council since 2007 – including four years as deputy mayor.
"We live in a fabulous place, and we really need to keep the momentum going. The NDP government has helped this community," Atkinson said. "Our community lobbied the Liberal government to have a school board trustee from Mackenzie, and one from the Robson Valley. When the NDP got in in 2017, I met with (Education Minister Rob Fleming) that fall. We had that changed within five months."
Atkinson said she's met with and spoken with Premier John Horgan several times on the forestry issues challenging her community. The indefinite curtailment of the Canfor sawmill and Paper Excellence Canada pulp mill in Mackenzie saw the town of roughly 3,700 people lose more than 650 good-paying jobs.
In 2019, the provincial government created the Mackenzie Timber Supply Area Coalition – led by Conifex and including government, industry, labour and First Nations representatives – to provide input to government on how to revitalize the forest sector in Mackenzie.
"We have come up with a suite of recommendations that we'll be bringing forward soon," Atkinson said. "(Horgan) recognized that things weren't working. He wants to fix it, but he wants to know what's wrong from the people with boots on the ground."
While forestry is the major issue in Mackenzie, in Prince George issues around homeless, addiction and mental health are also front and centre, she said. In the more rural parts of the riding like Bear Lake, she said she's heard about issues like the lack of high-speed internet service.
"That has to be fixed," she said. "(And) I think the overall, umbrella issue is COVID-19. People have criticized Premier Horgan for calling this election, but what's happened in this province has been a model for the world. We need to have a strong government in place. This is going to take a few years to get out of this."
Atkinson has lived in Mackenzie since 1997, and prior to going into politics full-time worked as a civil servant for the federal government and provincial government, including for the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Ministry of Citizens' Services and the court system.
She said she hopes to bring her experience working on the front line of government, delivering services on the local level, to Victoria.
"When Premier Horgan reached out to me and asked if I would run, I had to think about it. It meant giving up the job I've enjoyed the most," she said. "(But) I had to not be a coward and take up the challenge. I do feel strongly supported by Mackenzie, and I want to earn the support of the rest of the riding."
Atkinson said the 2020 election campaign won't be a normal campaign, but she hopes to be able to reach out to voters throughout the riding and in Prince George.
She will be challenging incumbent MLA Mike Morris, of the Liberals. No other parties had declared a candidate in the riding as of Thursday afternoon.
