Former B.C. cabinet minister Lois Boone announced Thursday she is seeking the NDP nomination for the coming federal by-election in Prince George-Peace River.
She says she was driven to do so a decade after leaving provincial politics because of the introduction of the harmonized sales tax in British Columbia, blaming both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell for the "unfair" tax.
"Harper's HST was the last straw for me," said Boone, who served as a Prince George MLA from 1986 to 2001, serving for a time as deputy premier but also holding posts in transportation and children and families.
"It's time for a strong voice from this riding to tell Harper that we don't want to be taken for granted," said Boone, who continues to be involved in local politics as vice-chair of the Prince George board of school trustees.
Conservative MP Jay Hill, who retired, has already left office, but a byelection has still not been called.
There are several candidates for the Conservative Party already, including former Prince George mayor Colin Kinsely, Prince George city councillor Cameron Stolz
Also in the running are Bob Zimmer, Dan Davies, Don Irwin, all from Fort St. John and Jerrilyn Schembri, who is from Tumbler Ridge.
