Candidates in Pictou West byelection tread lightly on controversial issues
CBC
This race to represent Pictou West at Province House is between a teacher, a school bus driver, a sawmill owner and a caregiver.
Although the candidates in the May 21 byelection come from varied backgrounds, they are choosing their words carefully when it comes to issues that have divided their community.
For example, only one of the four candidates is fully in favour of a proposal by Bear Head Energy to install 100 wind turbines in eastern Pictou County, not far outside the riding.
"I just really would like to see our province be right up there with all of the other great things that are going on around the world for green energy, including this wind farm," said Green Party candidate Clare Brett, a caregiver and singer-songwriter who moved to Nova Scotia six years ago from B.C.
"I don't know much about the actual farm itself, but it doesn't bother me to see them."
Brett previously ran for the Green Party of Nova Scotia in 2021 and garnered 124 votes.
Melinda MacKenzie, running for the NDP, wants more information before taking a stand.
"It's something that needs more community consult and buy-in from the people that it's going to affect," said MacKenzie, a teacher and Pictou town councillor.
Liberal Mary Wooldridge-Elliott, a school bus driver and a member of Pictou County council, also suggested the wind farm should only go ahead if it has majority support.
"I feel that it is a hard decision to make, but we always have to do what's best for the people," said Wooldridge-Elliott, who is, like Brett, trying for the second time to win the seat.
Wooldridge-Elliott came a distant second in the 2021 general election. Incumbent PC MLA Karla MacFarlane took almost 64 per cent of the vote in that election.
"I can say what I think, but Tim [Houston] is going to make that decision regardless, so I'm hoping he's going to make that right decision for the people, and I feel that most of the people don't want it," said Wooldridge-Elliott.
PC candidate Marco MacLeod said the fact the Blue Mountain project is proposed for outside the riding means he isn't up on it.
"I don't know enough about it," said MacLeod, a local sawmill owner. "It's not in my constituency, so I can't speak to that."
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