Cranbrook’s new mayor Tom Shypitka thinks the new provincial government could be good for Cranbrook.
Premier-elect Lorne Doerkson and Shypitka have history, with both serving as MLAs for the BC Liberals/BC United.
“I will be very excited working with Lorne and our new government so we can look at ways to improve things here in Cranbrook,” he said.
“Lorne and I worked together as colleagues with the BC Liberal and then BC United Party. He is a solid guy and I wish him a huge congrats.”
Shypitka said the city has a head start compared to other communities in BC.
“Any advocacy that the city has to do with other associations or governments, First Nation or otherwise, provincial, federal, comes with relationships,” he said.
“We need to build those relationships and trust with those groups. I think for myself, with the provincial government, that trust has already been established, so I don’t have to do that groundwork so much as maybe some other mayors across the province may have to do.”
H said as mayor you have to be willing to work with any government, but in this case it works out well for him.
“I know our premier very well, I know probably who’s going to be our house leader, or our agricultural minister and all those other people,” he added.
“I know them all well, and I wish them the best of luck, and it doesn’t matter if it’s an NDP government, a Green government or a Conservative government. Those relationships have to be established and I’m happy to say that that work has been primarily done.”
Council’s inaugural meeting is Monday Nov. 2.
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