Local NDP Lashes Out At Mayes As New Candidate Acclaimed - Residents angered by ``corporate giveaway,'' says local president

Kate Bouey 2/1/2011 105.7 SUNFM

She calls herself an ``ordinary person'' but residents in the Okanagan Shuswap are now learning about Nikki Inouye, the NDP's newly-acclaimed candidate for the federal Okanagan Shuswap riding. Asked about the top priorities in this area, Inouye lists health care, seniors' care, homelessness, helping people make ends meet and farming. She has little time for the Conservative MP for Okanagan Shuswap, Colin Mayes. ``I don't see him present. You have to be present and in the area for people to have trust and faith in you,'' say Inouye, who's family ties to the region go back to the 1930s. And Nick Hodge, president of the local NDP riding association goes further. He's angered by Mayes' comments, reported on SUN FM, questioning the NDP and Liberals ``challenge at this time'' and stating that a federal election is not needed. Hodge points to proposed coroporate tax cuts in the upcoming federal budget. ``Tax cuts to profitable oil companies and banks while Canadian pensioners are choosing between food or home heating is one issue that I hear people talking about,'' states Hodge. ``One tenth of this corporate giveaway would be enough to lift every senior in Canada out of poverty.'' ``We need an election because this government is leading Canada in the wrong direction,'' Hodge says.