Wayne Stetski

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Wayne Stetski
Member of Parliament
for Kootenay—Columbia
In office
October 19, 2015 – October 21, 2019
Preceded byDavid Wilks
Succeeded byRob Morrison
Mayor of Cranbrook
In office
December 5, 2011 – December 8, 2014
Preceded byScott Manjak
Succeeded byLee Pratt
Personal details
Born (1952-05-23) May 23, 1952 (age 71)
Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Political partyNew Democratic Party of Canada
SpouseAudrey

Wayne L. Stetski (born May 23, 1952) is a Canadian politician and former provincial park Regional Manager. He served as the Member of Parliament for Kootenay—Columbia in the 42nd Canadian Parliament. He was elected to that position in the 2015 Canadian federal election as a member of the New Democratic Party. During that parliament he sponsored two private member bills: one to make the Friday before Thanksgiving Day be known as "National Local Food Day" and another to add various lakes and rivers to Navigable Waters Protection Act. Stetski acted as the NDP Critic for National Parks for the duration of the 42nd Canadian Parliament. He was defeated in the 2019 Canadian federal election.

Prior to being elected to parliament, Stetski sought election as mayor of Cranbrook, British Columbia in 2008, 2011, and 2014. Though lost the 2008 election, he won in 2011 and served three years as mayor. He lost his re-election bid, as other Cranbrook incumbents in 2014[1] Prior to being mayor, Stetski worked 35 years with national and provincial parks and protected areas, including as the Kootenay Regional Manager for the BC Ministry of Environment.

Career[edit]

Stetski had a 35 year career working with national and provincial parks and protected areas. His career began as a naturalist for Pacific Rim National Park Reserve as a summer job while attending the University of Manitoba where he earned a science degree in ecology and education. He worked for Manitoba Parks before moving to British Columbia where he worked as a BC Parks manager for visitor services.[2] He transitioned to the Manager for East Kootenay parks in 1980, and later became the regional manager of the Kootenay parks. Stetski had lived in Cranbrook since 1990 and been an active member in the community, raising three children and volunteering with the a local church and theatre, coaching hockey and baseball.[3] Stetski changed jobs in 2009 to become the manager of the non-profit group East Kootenay Conservation.[4]

Politics[edit]

With the mayor of Cranbrook retiring, the 56 year old Stetski stood for election to replace him in the 2008 local government election. With 46% of the vote, he lost to Cranbrook councillor Scott Manjak.[5] Stetski became a board member with the local United Way[6] and the vice-president of the Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook Society during its opposition to urban expansion on the land across the Cranbrook Community Forest.[7] In 2011, with Manjak opting not to seek re-election, Stetski again ran for mayor. This time, he won the election with 45% of the vote.[8] As mayor, he was also appointed to the board of the Regional District of East Kootenay and the Columbia River Treaty Government's Committee. He stood for re-election in 2014 but lost, along with all other Cranbrook incumbents, with 38% of the vote.[9]

The 62 year old Stetski quickly rebounded by being acclaimed, in March 2015, the NDP nominee for the Kootenay—Columbia riding in the upcoming October 2015 federal election.[10] Though incumbent the Member of Parliament, David Wilks of the Conservative Party, was seeking re-election, polling found the riding too close to call with both Wilks and Stetski polling at 37% among decided voters.[11] Stetski did go on to win the election with 37% of the vote but his NDP was reduced to third party status to a Liberal Party majority. During the 42nd Canadian Parliament Stetski was the NDP critic for National Parks issues[12] and sponsored two private member bills. On June 1, 2016, he introduced Bill C-281,[13] titled the National Local Food Day Act, which sought to make the Friday before Thanksgiving Day is to be known as "National Local Food Day".[14] The bill was passed by the House of Commons on November 8, 2018, but was blocked by the Conservative Party in the Senate.[15] His second private member bill, Bill C-385,[16] sought to re-insert numerous lakes and rivers such as Trout Lake, Duncan Lake, Windermere Lake, Columbia Lake, Kicking Horse River, Elk River, and Salmo River back into the Navigable Waters Protection Act. However, Bill C-385 did not advance past first reading as the government bill C-69 was amending the same act to re-define what water bodies and watercourses are deemed to be reviewable as navigable waters.[17]

Stetski was seeking re-election as the Kootenay—Columbia member of parliament in the October 2019 federal election.[18] He was defeated by retired law enforcement administrator Rob Morrison of the Conservative Party, and was contested by retired forester Rick Stewart for the People's Party, advocate Trev Miller for the Animal Protection Party and Nelson residents Abra Brynne for the Green Party and Terry Tiessen for the Libertarian Party. Stetski's last day in office was October 21, 2019.

In 2022 Wayne Stetski was elected as a Cranbrook, BC City Councillor for a four year term.

Electoral record[edit]

Federal[edit]

2021 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Rob Morrison 28,056 43.2 -1.6
New Democratic Wayne Stetski 23,986 36.9 +2.5
Liberal Robin Goldsbury 5,879 9.0 -0.1
People's Sarah Bennett 4,467 6.9 +4.8
Green Rana Nelson 2,577 4.0 -5.1
Total valid votes 64,965 99.5
Total rejected ballots 317 0.5
Turnout 65,282 68.4
Eligible voters 95,518
Conservative hold Swing -2.1
Source: Elections Canada[19]


2019 Canadian federal election: Kootenay—Columbia
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Rob Morrison 30,168 44.81 +8.03 $100,780.99
New Democratic Wayne Stetski 23,149 34.38 -2.84 $91,351.20
Liberal Robin Goldsbury 6,151 9.14 -10.35 none listed
Green Abra Brynne 6,145 9.13 +2.62 $17,085.86
People's Rick Stewart 1,378 2.05 - none listed
Animal Protection Trev Miller 339 0.50 - $1,850.63
Total valid votes/expense limit 67,330 99.61
Total rejected ballots 266 0.39 +0.08
Turnout 67,596 72.68 -0.28
Eligible voters 93,002
Conservative gain from New Democratic Swing +5.44
Source: Elections Canada[20][21]
2015 Canadian federal election: Kootenay—Columbia
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Wayne Stetski 23,529 37.23 -1.62 $90,414.74
Conservative David Wilks 23,247 36.78 -13.31 $108,293.89
Liberal Don Johnston 12,315 19.48 +16.00 $11,677.75
Green Bill Green 4,115 6.51 +0.08 $43,921.84
Total valid votes/expense limit 63,206 99.69   $279,227.99
Total rejected ballots 197 0.31
Turnout 63,403 72.97
Eligible voters 86,895
New Democratic gain from Conservative Swing +5.84
Source: Elections Canada[22][23]

Provincial[edit]

2020 British Columbia general election: Kootenay East
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Tom Shypitka 9,897 57.90 +1.33 $38,182.15
New Democratic Wayne Stetski 5,499 32.17 +2.5 $19,605.32
Green Kerri Wall 1,697 9.93 −1.34 $3,805.90
Total valid votes 17,093 100.00
Total rejected ballots    
Turnout    
Registered voters
Source: Elections BC[24][25]

Municipal[edit]

2014 Cranbrook Mayoral election
Candidate Votes %
Lee Pratt 3,396 58.69
Wayne Stetski 2,192 37.88
John York 144 2.49
Total 5,732 100.00
2011 Cranbrook Mayoral election
Candidate Votes %
Wayne Stetski 2,185 44.96
Jim Wavrecan 1,704 35.06
Pat O'Connell 863 17.76
John York 107 2.22
Total 4,859 100.00
2008 Cranbrook Mayoral election
Candidate Votes %
Scott Manjak 2,254 51.0
Wayne Stetski 2,050 46.3
John York 119 2.7
Total 4,423 100.00

References[edit]

  1. ^ Coulter, Barry; Crawley, Trevor; Petryshen, Arne (16 November 2014). "Cranbrook wipes the slate clean - Cranbrook News". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  2. ^ Tansey, Joel (17 November 2015). "Stetski named as National Parks critic in NDP shadow cabinet". The Golden Star. Golden, British Columbia.
  3. ^ Bryan, Bonnie (14 October 2008). "Stetski throws hat in the ring for mayor". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Cranbrook, British Columbia. p. 1.
  4. ^ "New manager for EKCP". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Cranbrook, British Columbia. 23 November 2009. p. 5.
  5. ^ Bryan, Bonnie (17 November 2008). "Manjak elected mayor of Cranbrook". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Cranbrook, British Columbia. p. 1.
  6. ^ Bryan, Bonnie (2 February 2010). "Two new board members for United Way". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Cranbrook, British Columbia. p. 2.
  7. ^ Stetski, Wayne (6 November 2009). "East Hill boundary extension referendum". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Cranbrook, British Columbia. p. 6.
  8. ^ MacDonald, Sally; Coulter, Barry (21 November 2011). "Wayne Stetski elected mayor of Cranbrook". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Cranbrook, British Columbia. p. 1.
  9. ^ "Cranbrook wipes the slate clean; An entirely new Mayor and Council". Daily Bulletin. Kimberley, British Columbia. 17 November 2014. p. A3.
  10. ^ Crawley, Trevor (17 March 2015). "Stetski kicks off federal NDP campaign". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Cranbrook, British Columbia. p. A2.
  11. ^ Cooper, Alex (23 September 2015). "Kootenay-Columbia a dead heat between Conservatives and NDP, poll says". Revelstoke Times Review. Revelstoke, British Columbia.
  12. ^ Tansey, Joel (17 November 2015). "Stetski named as National Parks critic in NDP shadow cabinet". The Golden Star. Golden, British Columbia.
  13. ^ "Bill C-281 An Act to establish National Local Food Day". Parliament of Canada. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  14. ^ Crawley, Trevor (27 September 2016). "Stetski looks forward to fall session in Ottawa". Daily Townsman. Cranbrook, British Columbia. p. 1.
  15. ^ Smith, Marie-Danielle (20 June 2019). "Dozens of bills, including on sexual assault and UNDRIP, die in Senate amid Conservative filibuster". National Post. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  16. ^ "Bill C-385 An Act to amend the Navigation Protection Act (certain lakes and rivers in British Columbia)". Parliament of Canada. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  17. ^ "Kootenay-Columbia lakes and rivers win protections". The Nelson Daily. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  18. ^ "MP Wayne Stetski officially nominated as NDP candidate for Kootenay-Columbia riding". Revelstoke Times Review. Revelstoke, British Columbia. 22 November 2018.
  19. ^ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  20. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  21. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Voter Information Service - Find your electoral district". Elections.ca. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  23. ^ "Elections Canada Online | Preliminary Candidates Election Expenses Limits". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  24. ^ "2020 Provincial General Election Final Voting Results". electionsbcenr.blob.core.windows.net. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  25. ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved 2 February 2021.

External links[edit]