SIXTH CANDIDATE JOINS DELTA SOUTH RACE

A sixth candidate has entered the race in Delta South in next month's
provincial election.

Running as an independent, North Delta resident John Shavluk, an
advocate for legalizing marijuana, had plenty to say at the
all-candidates meeting Thursday at Delta Secondary.

He said the Liberal government may brag about its record on the
economy, but that supposed good fortune, which was based more on luck
than policy, didn't trickle down to adequate school funding.

Saying education should be a guarantee, Shavluk said he's in favour of
removing post-secondary tuition to give everyone a chance to get ahead.

Shavluk, who said he was framed in the 1990s for marijuana possession,
which led to a two-year jail term, admitted he's not afraid to speak
out on the issues, including human rights, which he said has resulted
in making enemies.

He made headlines last year when the Green Party removed him as its
candidate in Newton-North Delta prior to the federal election. The
party pulled him following revelations he made comments on an online
discussion forum in 2006 that could be construed as
anti-Semitic.

Shavluk, who vehemently denied his comments were anti-Semitic, ran as
an independent.

Shavluk is the third independent running in Delta South, joining Vicki
Huntington and Graeme Drew. The three will take on Wally Oppal
(Liberal), Dileep Athaide (NDP) and Duane Laird (Green) in a race to
claim the seat vacated by Liberal MLA Val Roddick, who is retiring
after a decade in office.

Vowing to speak out on behalf of his constituents, Shavluk asked
people at Thursday's all-candidates meeting to check out his platform
at www.shavluk.com.