The 40th BC Provincial Election is almost complete. Polls opened today at 8 a.m. and closed tonight at 8 p.m.
We'll be reporting election results within the next hour.
During the month-long campaign, the Abbotsford News has followed all the candidates in the three Abbotsford ridings – Abbotsford South, Abbotsford West and Abbotsford-Mission.
During the campaign, many local issues rose to the surface. The following is a sampling of online comments that local readers posted either on the Abbotsford News website or its Facebook page.
On blueberry cannons:
Stop complaining about the d+++ cannons. Its ALR. Move somewhere else if your not happy. Stop jeopardizing our economy and ability to compete with other agricultural communities. It is expensive as hell to put up nets and nothing else is very effective.
We know where the Liberals stand, no point asking them. They refuse to take a stand against the blueberry industry and ban the cannons.
The blueberry cannon issue is significant for those of us living and farming in the ALR. I liked to hear what all the candidates would do about the problem.
On trash incineration:
"The wind makes us all neighbours" and that is the reality of it. We need to say that we are opposed to incineration regardless of location because this decision affects more than just our municipality.... Metro Vancouver is making decisions that will affect many people outside of their jurisdiction, including where they send the toxic ash from the incinerator, currently being trucked to a hazardous waste facility in Calgary.
I'm afraid this issue is THE most important one as you simply can't live without clean air... but can we trust them to keep their promise?
NIMBY seems quite fine for folks who are running for elected office, are in elected office or have spin about garbage burners that are vague and hard to pin down. Gold River, Campbell River, Powell River Howe Sound it doesn't matter.
No garbage burners in Canada anywhere seems like a fairly simple campaign idea to get behind, stand behind, no? We need front of pipe solutions not more end of pipe solutions, especially ones that still require landfills to deal with the fly and bottom ash.
How about finally getting a handle on better design and repair that can reduce the need for land-filling and recycling and the need for disposal solutions? We need to elect real "leaders" who aren't puppets and actually want to serve their constituents, not special interests.
On transit:
Which candidate will consider looking into options for transit connection to King George Sky train station?
On election signs:
They sure pucker up the landscape of beautiful British Columbia. Not only are they an eyesore, they are a distraction to drivers. We live in the age of technology, so nobody needs to get their voting information from the side of a road. Election signs should be outlawed. Show me a politician who would be willing to add that to their agenda.
Assorted thoughts:
We need change..tax breaks on food, clothing, gas, rent/morgage, bills........just my opinion.. but it's all up to you who you wanna vote for.. but it will be 4 more years of most expensive province to live in...and i raise kids...and i need money!
I always hope the next election will be run with respect and decency by all the players. I guess I'm disappointed yet again.