BC United party faithful met most of the new Okanagan candidates during an event at the West Kelowna Yacht Club on June 19. 

Hopefuls covering ridings from Coldstream to Penticton were on hand to speak with party members.

Pavneet Singh/Kelowna-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. 

害羞草研究所淧eople want a change, and that害羞草研究所檚 what our platform provides. There a lot of good things coming.害羞草研究所�

Singh said one of the biggest concerns he is hearing from voters is about healthcare. 

害羞草研究所淎lmost one million people don害羞草研究所檛 have a family doctor. That害羞草研究所檚 shocking.害羞草研究所�

In his riding, which includes several communities, there are also specific concerns.害羞草研究所� 

害羞草研究所淚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.害羞草研究所�

Singh is confident BC United can maintain its hold on the Okanagan 

害羞草研究所淭he team is strong and the candidates are competent. We are here to work hard and listen to the people.害羞草研究所�

Dr. Michael Humer/Kelowna-Centre

Humer, along with other party candidates, are breaking ground as Kelowna-Centre is a new riding in 2024 provincial election.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a fabulous riding because it害羞草研究所檚 suburan and urban,害羞草研究所� Humer said. 害羞草研究所淪o, it has all of the issues that are relevant.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚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害羞草研究所檚 a big reason why I害羞草研究所檓 running.害羞草研究所�

Humer said he is also hearing that people are not happy with the status quo.

害羞草研究所淭hey don害羞草研究所檛 feel we害羞草研究所檙e heading in the right direction, so they want change.

Ashley Ramsay/Kelowna-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. 

害羞草研究所淟ater in life, when I started my business, I did start to work in the public sector on different crown agency boards,害羞草研究所� she said.

Ramsay added she is seeing strong support for the party while door knocking.

害羞草研究所淚 usually start with formerly the BC Liberals and immediately the guard is down and it害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淥h yes, you害羞草研究所檝e got my vote.害羞草研究所�

She said her focus is to work hard every day for her community. 害羞草研究所淚 didn害羞草研究所檛 step into to this for it to fall away. It害羞草研究所檚 near and dear to my heart.害羞草研究所�

Ramsay noted that BC United is ready to govern.

害羞草研究所淭his is a management team that is prepared with the experience to make quick changes.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所淲e will fix it害羞草研究所� campaign slogan.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 results. When I look at healthcare, because that害羞草研究所檚 what I害羞草研究所檓 immersed in, if you invest in results you害羞草研究所檙e investing in on the ground care, you害羞草研究所檙e getting rid of administrative burden, you害羞草研究所檙e looking at technological capability.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淏uilding of the bridge in Kelowna, four-laning (Highway 97) between Osoyoos and Kelowna, rebuilding hospitals. There is a track record there and people remember that.害羞草研究所�

West Kelowna-Peachland candidate Stephen Johnston was scheduled to attend the event but cancelled due to illness.