Philippine Asian News Today Vol 19 No7 | Page 7

April 1 - 15, 2017 HEADLINES PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY Fil-Can Mable Elmore seeks 3rd term as BC NDP MLA VANCOUVER – The pride of the Filipino-Canadian community, Mable Elmore, is seeking her 3rd term as the MLA for Vancouver- Kensington. She’s working hard to make sure John Horgan and the BC NDP team is elected to form the next provincial government. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to have served the constituents of Vancouver-Kensington and our kababayans. With their trust and support, I know I can continue to work hard to make life better and more affordable,” says Mable Elmore, during the opening of her campaign office on Fraser Street in Vancouver. “Christy Clark serves the wealthy and well- connected – it’s time for the Filipino community and all of BC to have a premier that works for them,” she said to her overflowing crowd of supporters. With John Horgan and a BC NDP provincial government, we can make changes that improve the lives of new immigrants, housing, childcare, and other rising costs. I’m proud of John Horgan’s commitment to bring in $10 a day childcare, to invest in education and to freeze ICBC and BC Hydro rates,” she added. John Horgan and BC NDP Campaign puts people first Recently at a packed and energetic campaign event in Vancouver, Mable Elmore with John Horgan outlined 3 BC NDP Head John Horgan commitments he’s made to British Columbians: temporary foreign workers, - Make life more and families across BC. affordable “Over the last 8 years, - Fix the services I’ve seen how the Christy Clark and the BC Liberals have people care about; and - Create good given tax breaks to the top 2% while families struggle with  sustainable jobs Other pledges he’s made include eliminating tolls on the Port Mann and Golden Ears bridges; closing loopholes in the Residential Tenancy Act to protect renters; and introducing a $400 a year renters credit to help families manage the high cost of housing. “This is our chance to bring in a provincial government that works for us, and build a better BC. And I hope our kababayans will continue to support me and the rest of our BC NDP team by volunteering – and voting for the BC NDP on May 9th,” concluded Elmore. Mable Elmore’s Campaign Office: 5854 Fraser Street, Vancouver / 604-428-9033 / vkebcndp@ gmail.com Philippine-born Jane Spitz runs for B.C. Liberals in Vancouver-Hastings Among the provincial electoral districts considered as bastions of the B.C. NDP, Vancouver-Hastings is one of the most solid. New Democrats managed to hold on to Vancouver-Hastings when the B.C. NDP was nearly routed in 2001, one of only two ridings they won in the election that year. This hasn’t deterred a young candidate from entering the ring in Vancouver- Hastings for the B.C. Liberal Party. Jane Spitz is running with the governing B.C. Liberals of Premier Christy Clark in the May 9, 2017 provincial election. Spitz was acclaimed as the B.C. Liberal Party’s candidate on March 31. According to the party’s website, Spitz is a UBC student leader and sustainability advocate. “More women, and especially young women, need to be at the forefront of tackling the big issues in our province today – and that’s why I’m running,” Spitz said in party’s online write-up. Spitz also said: “I’ve spent my years on campus empowering more young people to step up and participate in our democracy, and I’m excited to be a voice for them in this election and within our party.” Born in the Philippines, Spitz is passionate about the environment and sustainable development. She has led a campus campaign promoting the importance of protecting our environment while protecting and creating BC jobs. Spitz is the past president of a major campus club at UBC, where she worked to engage hundreds of students in politics and current affairs. She has served on the Ubyssey newspaper’s board of directors, and has been an active volunteer for good causes including Ronald McDonald House. “Jane is everything we need more of in politics – young, energetic, and full of innovative ideas that will strengthen our party and our province,” said Justice Minister Suzanne Anton, B.C. Liberal candidate for Vancouver-Fraserview. “I’m delighted to have her on the strongest team of BC Liberal candidates Vancouver has ever seen.” Jane Spitz Candidate Vancouver-Hastings Getting the Job Done for Surrey-Fleetwood Peter Fassbender Re-electionist Surrey-Fleetwood Since being elected in 2013, my approach to serving the constituents of Surrey-Fleetwood has always been premised on listening, informing myself on the unique and specific needs of this community, and then working to take tangible action. This is why I was so excited to announce a $2.2 billion investment into Metro Vancouver transit a few weeks ago, which matches the $2.2 billion that was announced in the recent federal budget. This means that the Surrey transit line that will connect Newton to Guildford and eventually Langley will be at the top of the list to receive these funds. Surrey schools have also received a historic investment of $317 million that will create 7,200 new student seats across the city. This will ensure that that largest and fastest growing school district in the province has the appropriate resources necessary for many years to come. From new commitments to the Surrey Safe Schools Wrap program to keep at-risk-youth out of the gang and criminal lifestyle, to the two recently truck parking facilities that will help alleviate the parking difficulties of the local trucking community, Surrey is firmly on the radar of the government thanks to the tireless work of your local BC Liberal MLAs. Surrey’s importance to British Columbia is further emphasized by the Surrey Charter that the BC Liberal Party has just announced as a key plank of our electoral platform. It is an initiative that recognizes the speed at which the city is growing, and the ongoing need to have special consideration for all of the community’s diverse requirements. At the end of the day, I am asking to be judged on a record that has delivered real results for Surrey residents. Politics aside, I am very proud WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM of my record of getting the job done for this community. On May 9 th , I am asking Surrey-Fleetwood to carefully examine the success of our government that has produced five straight balanced budgets and led the nation in economic growth and job creation. This is the foundation that has allowed, and will continue to permit, strong investment into every aspect of Surrey. I want to thank you for your support over these past four years, and I hope that I can once again count on your vote so we can build upon the amazing progress that has already been achieved.