Macdonald wins Columbia River – Revelstoke

Updated May 13, 2009 4:30pm –

He’s a former teacher, former principal, former mayor but one thing he won’t be, at least not for the next four years, is a former MLA.

Incumbent NDP MLA Norm Macdonald won Tuesday’s, May 12, election over Liberal candidate Mark McKee by a healthy margin of 2,209 votes. Green party candidate Sarah Svensson received just 854 votes in total. [Read more]

Macdonald and McKee face off in Fairmont

The two men vying for votes locally in the upcoming provincial election squared off before a small crowd in Fairmont Hot Springs on April 16. The event, hosted by the Fairmont Business Committee, was the first public meeting of the two candidates since the provincial election was officially announced earlier in the week. Norm Macdonald, representing the NDP, and Mark McKee, representing the Liberal Party, were each asked to introduce themselves and give a brief synopsis of their views before attendees were encouraged to quiz the politicians on issues of concern. [Read more]

What Halberstadt did not say

Letter to editor –

It was with some interest that I read Antoinette Halberstadt’s screed attacking BC Liberal candidate Mark McKee. There are a few points I wish to make, which I hope will help clarify the situation for readers and voters from outside Revelstoke: [Read more]

McKee on IPPs

Press release —

IPPs: A Key Part of BC’s Green Future.

FACT: Independent Power Projects (IPPs) have been part of BC’s energy grid since the late 1980s.

FACT:  All BC Hydro contracts with IPP’s must be approved by the independent BC Utilities Commission to ensure they are cost-effective and consistent with the public interest.

FACT: IPPs have a low carbon footprint and will help wean the province away from dependence on power imported from coal-fired generating plans in Alberta and the United States. [Read more]

McKee congratulates local health-care activists

Press release –

McKee Congratulates Invermere Community’s Success at Acquiring a New ER.

Residents of the Invermere district performed magnificently in their successful quest to upgrade the local hospital’s emergency room, says BC Liberal Candidate Mark McKee.

“I would like to offer my congratulations to the District of Invermere and surrounding area and everyone that was involved in successfully getting the grant to upgrade the ER,” he said. [Read more]

McKee: "I didn’t accomplish these things on my own"

This is a response to recent letters about my involvement in the restructuring of health-care facilities in Revelstoke:

As a mayor (I was Mayor of the City of Revelstoke from November 2002 until November 2008), you get involved in just about every aspect of the community.  As mayor, I received direction on issues by public sentiment and direction from Council.  There was no doubt that the way IHA introduced its planned changes did nothing to build community support.  The plan first proposed did not — in most people’s minds — meet the needs of the community.  I was the one that told IHA the plan was not acceptable and they should go back to the drawing board.  We formed the mayor’s advisory committee on health care to have input on the proposed changes.  Most of us knew that changes were coming and we should be part of the solutions. [Read more]

Who really saved Moberly Manor?

Letter to editor –

Re: Yielding real results for seniors.

After reading Liberal candidate Mark McKee’s letter in a couple of online newspapers from Golden and Invermere, I feel I must respond. It has me speculating why his letter has not been in our local press in Revelstoke. Mark appears to be portraying himself to the world outside of Revelstoke as the leader in the fight to save Moberly Manor. I guess it would be a hard sell here as many people know what actually went on during the times when this Liberal government tried to close Moberly Manor and displace the 20 seniors who lived there. Residents faced the anxiety of moving to a hospital somewhere in the province, going home with families if they had one or be one of 9 lucky ones who could go to the 28 bed extended care wing of Queen Victoria Hospital. Mark McKee’s letter sounds like he was instrumental in getting the extended care cottages and the Assisted Living built.  I am taking exception to Mark’s claim that he was front and center in getting our senior’s care homes as they are today.  As a life long resident of Revelstoke, a staff member of Moberly Manor, the shop steward for the staff that was going to be laid off, this is not how I remember it. [Read more]

Revelstoke resident refutes McKee claims

Letter to editor --

Setting the record straight here in Revelstoke

Dear Sir,

Mr. McKee would garner more respect if he acknowledged others have initiated important projects. He would in fact be seen as more of a leader if he gave others their due. A good leader is one that supports others and recognizes their work.

In his expensive multicoloured flyer and recent press release McKee takes credit for things he didn’t initiate.

• The Revelstoke Aquatic Centre: Did McKee actually start the process to get an indoor aquatic centre for Revelstoke? No! It was a citizen’s Steering Committee that initiated the process and put endless hours into the project. City Council, responding to a referendum, then carried it forward.

• Home and seniors care: Despite knowing many Revelstoke residents find Home Support Care less than adequate (care workers’ uncertain arrival times, frequent personnel changes, lost service time due to orienting different workers, poorly scheduled travel time, etc.). McKee seems to actually believe that all is hunky dory in that regard and states so.

Is he obscuring real facts with his Liberal ‘illusory veneer – election talk’? [Read more]

McKee says voting makes a ‘real difference’

Press release —

Voting gives young people a say in who governs our province.

British Columbia’s young adults can make a real difference to the future of the province by coming out to vote in the May 12 election, says Mark McKee, the BC Liberal candidate in Columbia River-Revelstoke.

“The BC Liberals message is all about the economy, jobs, health care, the environment, and education.,” he said. “This all adds up to the well being of our province’s future — something that I believe all young voters are concerned about.

“They are asking themselves if their vote matters and can it make a difference, can they make a difference. The answer is: ‘Yes.’ They absolutely can make a difference. This province needs youth to get informed and involved.” [Read more]

McKee "yielding real results"

Letter to editor –

Yielding real results for seniors care & health care

by Mark McKee, BC Liberals Candidate Columbia River-Revelstoke

Aging has never been an easy process, but one thing is for certain – as the number of seniors rise government needs to react. Today, I’m pleased to see the BC Liberal Government taking real action through creative thinking and a cooperative approach to yield the solutions communities and seniors need.

As Mayor of Revelstoke, I had the opportunity to be part of the solution, working with the provincial government and the local health authority to ensure the best possible care for our seniors. Our municipal government took the approach that a viable solution required cooperation and tough bargaining and as a result we formed the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Health. I pushed hard for solutions that would satisfy the people of Revelstoke. [Read more]