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Clearwater voters voice their election concerns

Government spending was a popular election issue for voters
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Two voters walk into the Dutch Lake Community Centre where a polling station was held for the 2021 snap election. (Stephanie Hagenaars/Clearwater Times)

The federal election held Monday, Sept. 20, ended with the continuation of a Liberal minority and representation in the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding by Conservative Party candidate Frank Caputo.

As they headed to the polls, Clearwater residents expressed concerns that ranged from too much spending by the federal government over the pandemic to the exorbitant cost of holding an election.

“We just need to focus on what Canadians need and get all that under control first,” said Marvin Ritchie, of Vavenby. “It’s gonna take a long time to recover from all of the spending that’s happened, and it’s just a big mess.”

He added the federal government should focus on getting the pandemic under control, and work on jumpstarting the economy and balancing the budget.

Wayne Sim, a voter in Clearwater, agreed the economy was on his mind, and questioned how the government will rein in the “spiral of spending.” The government should focus on getting people working and ensuring we have healthy families before shifting to other areas, he said.

Clearwater’s Sharon Endacott said the government should have spent money at the beginning of the pandemic to help citizens pay rent and keep their pantries stocked. She wonders if, almost two years later, they could have found ways to spend more efficiently but acknowledges that hindsight is 20/20.

“It’s easy to make opinions,” she told the Times. “You’re also not the one having to be in the position where the buck stops and knowing the big picture. We see small parts.”

A real frustration for Endacott was having the Prime Minister call a snap election in the middle of a pandemic. “It just seems like a waste.”

Other voters were focused on other matters.

Clearwater’s Alex Genn said there are many important issues, such as climate change and reconciliation, but what really mattered was “wanting to make sure we’re moving in a forward direction, not back” which motivated her voting decision.

Two other Clearwater voters, Brielle Penner and Mackenzie Plexman, said they were voting Monday night to use their democratic voice.

“This world’s a little crazy right now,” said Penner. “We definitely want to be there for our choice, our voice and make sure that we do our part and make this world a better place.”

READ MORE: Conservatives maintain hold on Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo

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