Party Leader John Horgan pledges to turn northern B.C. into NDP territory

VICTORIA – New Democratic Party Leader John Horgan is travelling through northeastern B.C. this week, an area where he admits the party needs to attract voters, but he says he’s got three years to do the job.

The recently elected NDP leader says he’s going to make increasing votes in the northeast one of his priorities for the 2017 provincial election even though he’s fully aware the NDP didn’t set foot in the territory during the last two election campaigns.

He is visiting Fort St. John, Tumbler Ridge and Prince George in what he says will become regular northern visits.

Horgan says the area is home to thousands of oil and gas industry workers who deserve to be represented by a government that puts the priorities of working people ahead of the interests of a few.

He’s in Prince George Wednesday where he plans to visit a sawmill and a brewery.

Horgan says he’s aware the northeastern B.C. communities of Dawson Creek and Fort St. John have been represented provincially by members from the Liberals, Social Credit, Conservative and Reform parties and several Independents since the 1950s, but not a single New Democrat.