Saturday October 12, 2024 | SOOKE, BC
BC ELECTION CAMPAIGN DAY 22 of 28
Election feature by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Your 28-day voter’s guide for BC Election 2024
Steady in manner, sharp to observe, BC NDP Juan de Fuca-Malahat candidate Dana Lajeunesse is comfortable with campaigning.
He is presently a District of Sooke municipal councillor, having won the 2019 by-election and being re-elected in the 2022 local municipal elections.
Since being on council he got to know then-MLA (for Langford-Juan de Fuca) and Premier John Horgan. “John Horgan is a good friend. I want to continue his work,” says Lejeunesse. He says he was approached by the BC NDP to run in the Juan de Fuca-Malahat riding.
“I like to listen to people and address the issues that they have,” Lajeunesse told Island Social Trends in an interview this past week. At age 51 he has many years ahead of him for a new level of career as an MLA, should the election tip in his favour on election night October 19, 2024.
Prior to politics:
Until he ran and won as municipal councillor in 2019, Lajeunesse had worked as a mechanical engineering technologist and taught for over 30 years as a Camosun College instructor based on his eight years in the forestry industry at the start of his career.
Back in 1989 he had an unfortunate accident in which his back was broke and he has been using a wheelchair ever since.
Transportation front and center:
One of the top issues for Lajeunesse is transportation. The commute for people who have to leave Sooke every day to get to work is a frustration if not an impediment to living in Sooke.
At least 80% of Sooke residents travel on Highway 14 every day to get to work and then return home, It makes for a long day, especially if Highway 14 has congestion issues (particularly if there’s a motor vehicle incident or weather issue).
Highway 14 is the only route, making Sooke a town with a one-way-in/one-way-out dependency.
Pandemic recovery:
People have been through tough times during the pandemic and pulling out of that phase. The stress of financial challenges is recognized by Lajeunesse.
“There have been a lot of unprecedented events that our generation hasn’t had to experience before,” said Lajeunesse.
He itemizes the recession (yes he called it that, because really that’s how the economic-recovery phase has impacted people), supply chain issues (impacting the cost and availability of goods, services and notably groceries).
“I’m proud of the way the BC NDP handled the health crisis,” says Lajeunesse. He does not want to see BC go backwards. “I want to continue to work that’s been done.”
He notes that the BC NDP have hired more doctors and nurses and that a new medical school will be opening up in a few years. Lajeunesse “intends to work on those initiatives”.
Election landscape:
There could be one of two major outcomes to the October 19 provincial election, with either the BC NDP returning as government (perhaps with fewer seats) or the BC Conservatives forming government (at least as a minority government).
Now that there are 93 electoral areas and that many seats in the legislative assembly after the 43rd general election, a party will need to win at least 47 seats to achieve a majority.
Here’s the rundown by Lajeunesse on “John Rustad and his crew”: they don’t believe in science, climate change or vaccines.
“We need good solid fact-based approach to leadership,” says Lajeunesse.
To move forward in BC “we need to win this”.
Lajeunesse is up against two contenders who have also run strong campaigns: Dr Marina Sapozhkinov (BC Conservative) and David Evans (BC Green).
Next event:
The last of five all candidates meetings in Juan de Fuca-Malahat will be held on Sunday October 13 in Mill Bay, at Kerry Park Arena, 1035 Shawnigan Mill Bay Road, starting at 12 noon.
Organized by the Mill Bay Community League, the event will have a traditional debate format where each candidate has time to rebut what the other candidates say.
Advanced voting is open that day (October 13), from 8 am to 8 pm (also on October 15 and 16).
===== RELATED:
- Premier Eby delivers full BC NDP campaign platform on #bcelxn Day 13 (October 3, 2024)
- Juan de Fuca-Malahat candidates face-off in Otter Point (September 29, 2024)
- Greens support Juan de Fuca-Malahat candidate David Evans at fundraiser in Metchosin (September 11, 2024)
- BC NDP chooses Dana Lajeunesse as Juan de Fuca-Malahat candidate (July 21, 2024)
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