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Employment and housing on some Sicamous voters minds as they head to polls

The polling station will remain open in the council chambers in the district office until 8 p.m.
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The polling station at the Sicamous district offices will remain open until 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20. (Jim Elliot/Eagle Valley News)

As Sicamous voters go to the polls to select the council which will lead the community for the next four years, they have a variety of issues in mind that they hope the district council will address.

The polling station at the Council Chambers in the district office at 446 Main St. opened at 8 a.m. on Oct. 20 and will remain open until the polls close at 8 p.m.

Related:Sicamous Council candidates discuss issues at forum

Outside the polling station Sicamous voter Georgia Miller told the Eagle Valley News that the issues at the forefront of her thoughts on election day are the lack of low-income housing forcing people to leave the district. She said more jobs for residents is also a pressing issue.

Miller added that Airbnb vacation rentals using up rental supply that could be used to house longer-term tenants is another pressing issue that the future council will have to address.

Sid Laurilla said he is going to the polls confident that whoever is elected will be able to fulfill the needs of the community.

After casting her ballot Carol Pelc said she hopes the new council will take steps to make the community more sustainable by bringing new industry and businesses to town and creating more support for families.

Pelc said there is a good mix of candidates seeking a seat on council.

According to Civic Info BC, in 2014, 904 Sicamous voters of the total of 2,253 eligible cast a ballot, a 40.12 per cent turnout.

For the first time, Sicamous is using automated vote counting machines which will speed up vote counting and will also give voters an opportunity to fix incorrectly marked ballots to ensure their vote is cast as they intended.



Jim Elliot

About the Author: Jim Elliot

I’m a B.C. transplant here in Whitehorse at The News telling stories about the Yukon's people, environment, and culture.
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