The NDP buying municipal votes to win control of our communities.
First they tax us to death, then just before the municipal elections occur, all the carrots that we paid for come out, reminding us who to vote for. Let’s look at our bribery list, thay are all part of why we are flat broke at the end of the day. Not to forget the NDP, all but killed the entire resource industry, and has our province running flat broke spending borrowed money to stay in power. So it begs another question, how soon before there is no more resources to steal funding from?
What we do know is that two people have more than one thing in common, the first is neither pay taxes for having a home in Smithers, they are both active NDP members and supporters, they are Gladys Atrill and Sam Raven (née Samantha Szufnarowicz).
We all know Gladys Atrill is not running again, and many of us are wondering if a cat escaped the bag, or if she has other plans? What we do know is she has many active connections still going on. Executive director of Tourism Smithers, Board director of Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN), Board member of Northwest Regional Hospital District, President for the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA), Board member of Northern Development Initiative Trust, Director on the BC Transit, Board member/director-at-large of the Northern BC Tourism Association / Travel Northern BC. Keep in mind that in these organizations is a controlling vote of NDP power.
Important points – They did this to us.
LNG health‑study motion (July 2026) Requested by the “FAKE” Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) (must read link) They do not represent the medical profession at all, its a hoax.
Three Councillors who voted in favor of supporting the study (i.e., against the majority position) were: Mayor Gladys Atrill, Councillor Sam Raven, Councillor Genevieve Paterson Raven also moved spoke in favor of the motion, using a tobacco‑industry analogy to argue for precaution. What a stupid and deceitful comment.
Sam Raven has a history of backing the Office of the Wet’suwet’en, Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre, Land Acknowledgments, Tent City, Ken’ulh K’it Yikh at 1611 Main Street (Indian Housing) BC Housing’s Alfred Avenue Project, which will include 40 units with supportive services and 20 permanent shelter spaces, was approved for rezoning by Town Council in February 2024. Supportive housing typically includes 24/7 support services such as meals, life and employment skills training, and health and wellness support. Permanent shelters offer free, immediate places to stay for adults who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and typically include a bed and bedding, shared washrooms, laundry services, meals, and 24/7 staff support. Smithers approves semi-permanent shelter on Third Avenue. (check out the links, they are intentional)
Never revealed is that the people running it were from out of town, hide their credentials (likely do not have any) run an organization to fund themselves high paying jobs at the taxpayers expense.See “Smithers Emergency Shelter – “Shrouded in Secrecy”
It does not make her a humanitarian, but does make her a “socialist dipper” because they hang onto their money and want to fund everything out of everyone else’s wallet. Like the other three she voted in favor of the tax increase for Smithers residents, while remaining immune to any tax increase for her own residence. The reference to dippers is often used to describe the NDP socialist agenda, dipper because they always put their hands in your pocket expecting you to fund their schemes.
All of this while defunding Medicare, Hospitals, Ambulance Services, ER Closures “Stikine Health Centre — Closed” – “Stewart Health Centre — Closed”. No ambulance service in Stewart BC.
No shortage of funding for aboriginal communities, LGBTQ2, and funding drug and alcohol addiction. All the aforementioned mentioned are takers and not givers. They take our taxes and contribute little to nothing towards it. The B.C. government provided a $5-million grant to support shipping terminal that was taxpayer funded but will be jointly owned by the Nisg̱a’a and Tahltan Nations. Its so much more important that Medicare or health services in Stewart.
Before we continue there is another Smithers counselor that comes to mind, her name is Genevieve Paterson. She is a full time employee working for the NDP Goverment, she works for the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Sr. Project Manager. She worked under Nathan Cullen (NDP) who was Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship from 2022 to 2024.
She was involved with the Bulkley Valley Lakes District Airshed Management Society (all hardcore lefties) and the Bulkley-Morice Forest Landscape Plan a BC-NDP Project under Ravi Parmar NDP – Ministry of Forests ).
The spin version given to us was is “Her council work also aligned with reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, improving waste diversion, active transportation, and protecting local water resources.” In a nutshell a total eco-radical inside our town Council
Genevieve Paterson opposed approval-in-principle for a proposed splash pad, she raised concerns about declining water levels, whether Smithers would have enough water to operate it, and whether all staffing and operating costs had been identified. Now a few facts that went over her head. In 1996 Smithers population peaked at 5,624 current estimates say today we have about the same population. (5,400 to 5,630 residents) So her water excuses have nothing to do with Smithers growing and everything to do with NDP agenda.
Land Acknowledgments served on the Skeena Roundtable of the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. Smithers’ council priorities “The 3 Dippers” included strengthening relationships and collaborating with the Wet’suwet’en. (Land Acknowledgments) That makes it a perfect trio, Genevieve Paterson, Sam Raven and Gladys Atrill all pro Land Acknowledgments.
Paterson proposed a Select Committee on Community Safety and Well-Being to address crime, homelessness, encampments, mental-health challenges, addictions, and the possible future use of government funding. (Diverting BC Medicare Funding into funds for addicts, and mentally disturbed people, not for giving them medical treatment, but just funding the problem. Not for the mainstream public, but the NDP lets blow the funds campaign, As part of the council’s strategic agenda, Genevieve Paterson supported priorities involving more affordable and diverse housing, downtown vitality, recreation, culture, and active transportation. In layman’s English that means funding those who don’t pay taxes by those who pay all the taxes.
Genevieve Paterson attack on the resource industry, Genevieve Paterson was appointed to the Smithers Health Committee and, in 2026, voted in favor of asking the province for an independent cumulative health-impact assessment of the natural-gas and LNG industry. Again for the selective few, Genevieve Paterson served on the Smithers District Transit Committee, indicating involvement in maintaining and improving local transportation services. In layman’s English that means funding those who don’t pay taxes by those who pay all the taxes.
NDP VOTE BUYING
Northwest B.C. Regional Funding Agreement through the Resource Benefits Alliance (RBA): $21,901,077 over five years for the Town of Smithers. The funding can support roads, water, sewer, public facilities, and other municipal infrastructure. Did anyone forget out Smithers taxes went up to pay for these as well?
New Smithers public library; reported as 100% RBA-funded. Who founded the RBA? None other than Bruce Bidgood.
Next we have RBA 2025 municipal allocations $1 million for roads and sidewalks; $2.7 million for Princess Street; $1.5 million for Hudson Bay Reservoir watermain replacement, plus well-pump and planning work.
$500,000 1.8-km Fulton Avenue multi-use pathway connecting the Bulkley River bridge toward the Cycle 16 Trail. $2.5 million provincial contribution. Part of a more than $5.5-million senior-government package, alongside $3.052 million federal funding and $2 million from Smithers. (NDP/Liberal Coalition)
Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades, $2.5 million provincial contribution, part of a more than $5.5-million senior-government package, alongside $3.052 million federal funding and $2 million from Smithers. (NDP/Liberal Coaltion)
Northern Development Initiative Trust, Program-dependent; infrastructure grants generally up to $300,000, Economic, cultural, recreation, and main-street infrastructure. (with a socialist twist)
Grants in lieu of property taxes (really?) Annual operating/capital-support payment; amount varies, (hidden totals) Municipal services and infrastructure such as roads, sidewalks, water, sewer, fire protection, and parks.
Let me repeat “All of this while defunding Medicare, Hospitals, Ambulance Services, ER Closures”, so the NDP can buy more votes, and spend it on more important issues.
Now its in the hands of voters, let them decide what is most important, to fund, not to fund, what to support, and what not to support, keeping in mind your kids will need jobs if they plan to stay iin Smithers, also keep in mind most are leaving because there is no hope for them in Smithers.
So why did Smithers need to jack up property tax by 4.37% ??
