“Oh.”
“And Amy wants to align with him. I’m not saying it’s a terrible idea. He’s running more ads in the paper than any other candidate. But there could be consequences down the line.”
“Like what?”
“Right now, a council runs the island. It’s a lot like the local elections that existed before the Quake. We’ve got a mayor and thirty-two council positions. There are a few rules about how many need to come from each of the islands. We get half of them; the outer islands get the other sixteen. But aside from that, people mark their five favourite candidates, turn in their ballots and the people with the most ticks get in. It’s simple. Since we’re all against each other, no one really gangs up.”
He sighs dramatically. I’m missing the tour now, but I just don’t have the same level of interest as April does in Salt Spring’s attempts to resurrect the chicken pox vaccine. Plus, Sid, clearly needs to get this off his chest.
“But the nation is growing, so… people are talking about changing things. We might go back to a parliamentary system someday. It would make it easier to ensure everyonehas regional representation, and I’m not against that. But you just know that if we do start cutting things up into ridings, we’re going to end up right back in political parties. It’s already happening a little. Tom has council friends on the other islands whom he doesn’t directly compete with. He writes opinion pieces for the paper endorsing them.”
“He did that for you, too.”
“He did. I think he wants to be ready in case the change happens. I can live with being in the same political party as Tom. He’s kept the immigration department alive on his own for years. But Bradley? You should see the ads he runs. He’ll have one that’s going on aboutprotecting our way of lifeone week, then one aboutbuilding a welcoming nationthe next. He’s just throwing shit at the wall, seeing what sticks. He doesn’t care. Why should any of us trust someone who flip-flops on everything? Who’s to guess how he’s going to vote once he gets in?”
“Hmmm.” I’ll need to read up on parliamentary government back at home, but I get the gist of where he’s coming from. At the very least, I know how awful it is when people are telling you to trust someone who you know is bad news. “If he isn’t committed, then maybe he’s pliable? Maybe you and Amy can shape him into someone you can work with?”
“Maybe Amy can. I’m not touching Bradley Patterson.”
“You might not have a choice,” I say.
He sighs, which seems about as good a place to leave the conversation as any. Besides, the tour is wrapping up. Both the reporter and Amy are making their way through the crowd, asking people how they enjoyed themselves. To her credit, Amy seems busy handing something to April, so the reporter reaches Sid and I first.
“Sid Charles and Kayla Hollins?” she reads off a small sheet. “Do you mind if I record this conversation?”
“Not at all,” says Sid, so I also nod.
“Great.” She pulls out her phone again, but instead of pointing the lens at us, turns one end toward our mouths so that it can pick up our voices through the din of people talking. “You’re running for council this coming spring, right Mr. Charles?”
“Yes. I am.”
“Would you say that you see yourself as in-line with Ms. Sullivan’s work here? She told us that she’s hoping that if she gets onto council, she’ll be able to allocate more government resources towards the Reinventor’s Guild.”
“Ms. Sullivan and I would be in agreement on that, yes,” says Sid. “I’m familiar with her work. She’s done a lot to direct investment into practical solutions for our nation. Improved wind turbines. Modular housing designs. She played a major role in spearheading those projects.”
“And do you see yourself as playing a role in all of this? Or is this strictly Ms. Sullivan’s area?”
“Well, like she said earlier, the main reason people come to Salt Spring is because we offer a better quality of life. I know that played a huge role in my decision to escape TNS. There’s a promise we make people when they come here. We’ve got a duty to keep it. My focus would be advocating for advancements and solutions that make a higher quality of life accessible to all.”
“Thank you.”
I expect her to head towards Bradley Patterson, who is clearly hovering at the edge of our conversation, but instead she turns the phone toward me.
“Kayla Hollins. You’re a recent immigrant here. Would you say the nation is keeping its promises to you?”
“Oh… um. Yeah. Sure.”
“Sure?”
“Sure.”
“So you think there’s room for improvement?” she presses.
I stare at her, wide eyed. I don’t get the impression people will like it if I complain about their island. Especially when April would be toast without their stupid insulin.
Luckily, Sid saves me from having to come up with a nuanced answer. “There’s always room for improvement. That’s why we need people in government committed to working for our citizens,” he says.
“Yeah, what he said.”
