Mark Makela is a man on a mission.
He spent nearly a week away from his home in Rolla, a small community north of Dawson Creek, driving around the province on a political crusade many have taken opposition to.
Makela has been putting up his anti-NDP signs, adorned with the communist hammer and sickle symbol, in communities between Dawson Creek and Vernon.
On Sunday, he made another stop in Prince George on his way home for an exercise that's become familiar since he started putting up the signs - fixing them after they've been torn down.
His NDP Bites declaration in front of Mr. P.G., like his signs in other communities, didn't last long.
"[Community residents] destroyed everything I could put up as fast as I could put them up," said Makela.
A self-described "rig-pig" and "old hippie," 62-year-old Makela said his stand against the provincial New Democrats goes back years and is supported by what he sees as a coming attack on potential jobs from projects such as Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline, the expansion of the Kinder Morgan pipeline project and the Site C dam.
"This sounds like something in line with the Liberals' fact-free campaign," said Prince George-Mackenzie NDP candidate Bobby Deepak. "We're not terribly concerned about people wrapped up in a Cold War imagery and trying to use fact-free scare tactics."
He said he and his party have been clear about their plans for forestry, mining and liquified natural gas projects.
"We are saying yes to resource jobs in northern B.C.," said Deepak. "The one project that we are against is Enbridge and we've made that clear."
Makela is registered with Elections BC as an individual advertising sponsor and can spend up to $3,000 on the signs.
"It's O.K. to wave signs," he said. "Isn't that part of the election system?"
In addition to fixing his own sign Sunday, Makela also repaired the neighbouring sign for Prince George-Mackenzie Conservative candidate Nathan Giede, which was knocked over.
He has left signs with family members and friends along the route to replace the ones that will inevitably get torn down again, he said.
Deepak said everybody has their own opinion in a democracy, but that he's not going to worry himself over what others are doing.
"I'm working hard to actually address the challenges of today," he said. "That's what Adrian Dix and the B.C. NDP have been doing throughout this campaign. We are keeping positive."
According to Makela, the thrust of his whole campaign is to get people to vote, saying it's not good enough for half of the voting population to make the decision on who forms government.
"We've got soldiers fighting wars for [our right to vote], but people can't get their fat, lazy butts off the couch," he said.
When asked what if his signs spurred more votes for the NDP, Makela had to pause.
"Hey," he finally said, "they voted."
NDP leader Adrian Dix is making a pit stop in Prince George today as part of his 24-hour Countdown to Change tour, in which he will hit 17 communities. He will be at the Prince George Airport at 1:45 p.m.
