BC United party faithful met most of the new Okanagan candidates during an event at the West 麻豆精选 Yacht Club on June 19.
Hopefuls covering ridings from Coldstream to Penticton were on hand to speak with party members.
Pavneet Singh/麻豆精选-Lake Country-Coldstream
Singh is a business owner who originally came to Canada as an international student. He said voters can count on BC United if the party is elected to govern the province.
鈥淧eople want a change, and that鈥檚 what our platform provides. There a lot of good things coming.鈥�
Singh said one of the biggest concerns he is hearing from voters is about healthcare.
鈥淎lmost one million people don鈥檛 have a family doctor. That鈥檚 shocking.鈥�
In his riding, which includes several communities, there are also specific concerns.鈥�
鈥淚n Rutland its public safety and the middle school, in Lake Country an overpass on the highway, in Coldstream its clean water and (invasive) mussels in Kalamalka Lake.鈥�
Singh is confident BC United can maintain its hold on the Okanagan
鈥淭he team is strong and the candidates are competent. We are here to work hard and listen to the people.鈥�
Dr. Michael Humer/麻豆精选-Centre
Humer, along with other party candidates, are breaking ground as 麻豆精选-Centre is a new riding in 2024 provincial election.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a fabulous riding because it鈥檚 suburan and urban,鈥� Humer said. 鈥淪o, it has all of the issues that are relevant.鈥�
Humer, a retired thoracic surgeon, added that cost of living and getting into home ownership are common themes when speaking with voters, but most want to talk about healthcare.
鈥淚t needs significant fixes. They want more services, less red tape, and they want better access to care. At the end of the day that鈥檚 a big reason why I鈥檓 running.鈥�
Humer said he is also hearing that people are not happy with the status quo.
鈥淭hey don鈥檛 feel we鈥檙e heading in the right direction, so they want change.
Ashley Ramsay/麻豆精选-Mission
Ramsay, founder of micro businesses in technology and baby goods manufacturing, grew up in Victoria and said politics was often a topic at the family kitchen table.
Her later experience around politics helped form her decision to run as a candidate.
鈥淟ater in life, when I started my business, I did start to work in the public sector on different crown agency boards,鈥� she said.
Ramsay added she is seeing strong support for the party while door knocking.
鈥淚 usually start with formerly the BC Liberals and immediately the guard is down and it鈥檚 鈥淥h yes, you鈥檝e got my vote.鈥�
She said her focus is to work hard every day for her community. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 step into to this for it to fall away. It鈥檚 near and dear to my heart.鈥�
Ramsay noted that BC United is ready to govern.
鈥淭his is a management team that is prepared with the experience to make quick changes.鈥�
Tracy St. Claire/Penticton Summerland
Sinclair grew up in Penticton and is the executive director of the non-profit South Okanagan Similkameen Division of Family Practice.
She stands firmly behind the BC United 鈥淲e will fix it鈥� campaign slogan.
鈥淚t鈥檚 results. When I look at healthcare, because that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 immersed in, if you invest in results you鈥檙e investing in on the ground care, you鈥檙e getting rid of administrative burden, you鈥檙e looking at technological capability.鈥�
St. Claire said she is also seeing much support for the party when door knocking and speaking with voters. She pointed out that BC United (Liberals) have a track record in the province.
鈥淏uilding of the bridge in 麻豆精选, four-laning (Highway 97) between Osoyoos and 麻豆精选, rebuilding hospitals. There is a track record there and people remember that.鈥�
West 麻豆精选-Peachland candidate Stephen Johnston was scheduled to attend the event but cancelled due to illness.
