Simons secures second term
Coast Reporter
May 15, 2009
By: Ian Jacques, Editor

Voters in Powell River-Sunshine Coast stayed the course Tuesday night, sending Nicholas Simons back to Victoria for four more years…

… Simons garnered 12,293 votes compared to 7,265 votes for Miller. Green Party candidate Jeff Chilton finished a distant third with 1,287 votes followed by B.C. Refederation Party candidate Allen McIntyre with a mere 236 votes.

The Liberals claimed a majority victory in the province, securing 49 seats compared to 36 for the NDP in the newly-configured 85-seat legislature. The new government will be sworn in in early June.

Simons was clearly happy with his win when he arrived at the Sechelt Indian Band Hall shortly after 9:30 p.m. He thanked his supporters both on the Lower Coast and in Powell River for running an amazing, and “interesting” 28-day campaign. He also acknowledged the Sechelt Nation for their support and for allowing the victory celebration to be held on their traditional territory.

“It’s a bittersweet night, but Powell River-Sunshine Coast is the best riding to represent in the province,” said Simons. “I’m a bit tired, but I’m excited…. It’s a bittersweet night because the province has chosen, through a democratic process, another four years of a government who I strongly disagree with on so many aspects of their policies and fundamentally on some of their values that they base their policies on, but what tonight represents for us is an opportunity to remember that we are surrounded by friends. We have a lot of work to do, but we can do it together.

“We’re not going to sit back and watch the province be sold off. We’re not going to let the province be turned into a place where those who have a lot continue to get more, and those who don’t continue to get left behind. It’s our responsibility, ladies and gentlemen, to make sure the policies of government represent the interests of the people. It’s the public interest we are here to protect, and we will do that.”…

“We can hold out hope that the people of British Columbia will hold the government to account through us, the elected opposition,” said Simons…. "Please stay in touch with me — I need all of you at my back so I can do that effectively. I will do my best to continue to represent you all with the strength and determination that I have found with your support the last four years, and I thank you for your support for the next four.”….

Voter turnout in the province was 51 per cent overall. The Island/Sunshine Coast region had the highest voter turnout with 55 per cent. The Lower Mainland came in with 49 per cent, with the Interior/North at 52 per cent.