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PHOTOS: BC NDP 21-year-old Prince George candidate Laura Parent officially hits campaign trail

Voting day is scheduled for Oct. 24
Jess Balzer
Jess Balzer

The BC NDP's campaign officially hit the Prince George-Valemount trail today (Oct. 2). 

Laura Parent held her introduction at Connaught Hill Park this afternoon with a small crowd in attendance, including former Prince George-Mackenzie BC NDP candidate Bobby Deepak.

"I've known Laura for about three years now," Deepak said.

"I got to know her and her work ethic," he said. "Just the motivational, inspirational and energetic person that really is she is. Very knowledgeable and one of the brightest, one of the hardest working.

"With the energy, hard work, ethic, passion for communities in the north, I think that Laura is going to make an excellent MLA for Prince George-Valemount. replacing the old with the new." 

Parent, at age 21, will run against BC Liberal Party's Shirley Bond, who has held the seat since 2001, BC Libertarian candidate Sean Robson and BC Green Party candidate Mackenzie Kerr. 

The UNBC political science student pointed to her local roots while also firmly expressing it's time for a younger face In the riding and a candidate a part of the official government, adding Bond can't do as much as an MLA in the cabinet. 

"I was born and raised here in Prince George surrounded by loggers and healthcare workers," Parent said. "I have deep roots in this area and I'm proud to be from northern B.C. I'm ready to advocate for our region and every person regardless of your income, age or identity.

"We can't afford four years of BC Liberal cuts and healthcare shortages, especially when our most vulnerable people are seniors, at risk. I know that you love and care for your family and I want to help you do that. 

"I think it's excellent [running against experience candidates], actually. I think people in our riding are realizing that our current MLA [Shirley Bond] is not a member of the government and is really limited in her power to do things. Shirley is a wonderful person, she is a wonderful MLA for Prince George but she's tired. I think it's time that Shirley dedicated more time to her family and I'm looking forward to filling her shoes." 

As with every candidate across the province right now campaigning with the election in roughly three weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has proven things will have to be executed differently. 

"Obviously, this campaign is really different from all of the ones we've experienced in the past because we can't do the things that we're normally used to, so no door knocking or big events."

Parent says she will turn to digital calls, campaign announcements in larger spaces with distancing and strong use of masks. 

"Just a new way to connect with people and connect with voters is kind of the general philosophy of our campaign."

She says the biggest areas of importance to her are health care and health care accessibility in B.C. and Prince-George Valemount. 

"So that looks like things like improving wait times for services, improving our seniors care and long term care. As I stated, these are the people most vulnerable in this ongoing pandemic and we need to ensure we're taken care of for the long haul. 

"It doesn't appear that there's going to be any anti-virus soon so this is going to be a lot of work and a large project, but it has to be done." 

Parent is also going to be running against another young voice, Mackenzie Kerr, who previously ran federally in the 2019 election for the Green Party of Canada and will make another run with the BC Green Party. 

"I'm so excited. It's clearer that in this election, we've got some really great candidates in this riding and great candidates as MLAs.

"Mackenzie and I have known each other for a few years and we've kind of watched each other grow into the political women that we are now, so I'm really excited to stand beside someone I'm familiar with so we can move forward." 

Voters head to the polls on Oct. 24.