Richard Lambert is an independent candidate in North Island who wants to address affordability and other issues facing the riding.
Lambert, a Port McNeill native and father of two, said he served with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry for 15 years before leaving the military in 2011 and moving to Campbell River.
After returning to Vancouver Island, he retrained as an electrician and worked on projects including Campbell River Hospital and the John Hart Dam.
Lambert said he had been thinking about entering politics for some time.
“It always drove me nuts that nothing was actually getting done,” said Lambert. “I thought about it, and I was actually considering doing politics two years down the road from now. The snap election through a little loop in my plans.”
He said he believes the current government’s record on the North Island is one of several issues facing the riding.
“A lot of promises being made, nothing ever coming to fruition,” explained Lambert. “The biggest thing that comes to mind is the care beds and the seniors.”
Lambert said his wife’s grandfather was moved between care homes and, in his view, treated like cargo under the current government.
He also described the lack of doctors and health-care services in the North Island as alarming.
Lambert said the decline in work opportunities is another concern, pointing to challenges in the fishing and logging industries.
“We’ve seen big hits on the fisheries, big hits on the logging industries, from things that the government had done years and years ago. The cascading effects are really starting to hit now.”
If elected, Lambert said he would focus on affordability and taxes.
“Everybody is promising money but there’s no real relief. I haven’t seen anybody really making comments about trying to reduce the taxing. Everyone is getting nickled and dimed.”
The provincial election is Oct. 24.
Keep visiting MyCampbellRiverNow.com and MyTriPortNow.com for more updates on local candidates.
