Wayne Stetski

Wayne 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.

Wayne Stetski
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Kootenay—Columbia
In office October 19, 2015 – September 11, 2019
Preceded by	David Wilks
Succeeded by	Rob Morrison
Mayor of Cranbrook
In office December 5, 2011 – December 8, 2014
Preceded by	Scott Manjak
Succeeded by	Lee Pratt
Personal details
Born	(1952-05-23) May 23, 1952 Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Political party	New Democratic Party of Canada
Spouse(s)	Audrey

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

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

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.

Electoral record

Federal

2019 Canadian federal election: Kootenay—Columbia
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Conservative	Rob Morrison	30,168	44.8	+8.02
	New Democratic	Wayne Stetski	23,149	34.4	-2.83
	Liberal	Robin Goldsbury	6,151	9.1	-10.38
	Green	Abra Brynne	6,145	9.1	+2.59
	People's	Rick Stewart	1,378	2.0	-
	Animal Protection	Trev Miller	339	0.5	-
Total valid votes/Expense limit			67,330	100.0
Total rejected ballots			266
Turnout			67,596	73.8
Eligible voters			91,652
	Conservative gain from New Democratic		Swing		+9.20
Source: Elections Canada[19][20]

2015 Canadian federal election
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	74.02	–
Eligible voters			85,653
	New Democratic gain from Conservative		Swing		+5.84
Source: Elections Canada[21][22]

Municipal

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

1. Coulter, Barry; Crawley, Trevor; Petryshen, Arne (November 16, 2014). "Cranbrook wipes the slate clean - Cranbrook News". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
2. Tansey, Joel (November 17, 2015). "Stetski named as National Parks critic in NDP shadow cabinet". The Golden Star. Golden, British Columbia.
3. Bryan, Bonnie (October 14, 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. November 23, 2009. p. 5.
5. Bryan, Bonnie (November 17, 2008). "Manjak elected mayor of Cranbrook". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Cranbrook, British Columbia. p. 1.
6. Bryan, Bonnie (February 2, 2010). "Two new board members for United Way". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Cranbrook, British Columbia. p. 2.
7. Stetski, Wayne (November 6, 2009). "East Hill boundary extension referendum". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Cranbrook, British Columbia. p. 6.
8. MacDonald, Sally; Coulter, Barry (November 21, 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. November 17, 2014. p. A3.
10. Crawley, Trevor (March 17, 2015). "Stetski kicks off federal NDP campaign". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Cranbrook, British Columbia. p. A2.
11. Cooper, Alex (September 23, 2015). "Kootenay-Columbia a dead heat between Conservatives and NDP, poll says". Revelstoke Times Review. Revelstoke, British Columbia.
12. Tansey, Joel (November 17, 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. June 1, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
14. Crawley, Trevor (September 27, 2016). "Stetski looks forward to fall session in Ottawa". Daily Townsman. Cranbrook, British Columbia. p. 1.
15. Smith, Marie-Danielle (June 20, 2019). "Dozens of bills, including on sexual assault and UNDRIP, die in Senate amid Conservative filibuster". National Post. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
16. "Bill C-385 An Act to amend the Navigation Protection Act (certain lakes and rivers in British Columbia)". Parliament of Canada. November 29, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
17. "Kootenay-Columbia lakes and rivers win protections". The Nelson Daily. March 12, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
18. "MP Wayne Stetski officially nominated as NDP candidate for Kootenay-Columbia riding". Revelstoke Times Review. Revelstoke, British Columbia]]. November 22, 2018.
19. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
20. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
21. "Voter Information Service - Find your electoral district". Elections.ca. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
22. "Elections Canada Online | Preliminary Candidates Election Expenses Limits". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2015-08-15. Retrieved 2017-07-11.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)

External links

• Wayne Stetski – Parliament of Canada biography
• NDP - Wayne Stetski