SALMON ARM – North Okanagan voters are guaranteed to have a new MP after this fall’s federal election. Conservative MP Colin Mayes is not seeking another term and all four major parties have already selected candidates to vie for his seat.
Along with a new member of Parliament, the riding also has a new name and boundaries. Instead of Okanagan-Shuswap the riding is now called North Okanagan–Shuswap and has expanded to the east.
Running for the Liberal Party is Cindy Derkaz. She grew up in Salmon Arm and studied law at UBC.
“I have not been in politics and I have not had any political aspirations, but over the last three years I have become increasingly concerned about what is happening to Canada,” she says.
Like many candidates, Derkaz has already been out talking to voters.
“I’m hearing that strong representation in Ottawa is very important. People are feeling that they aren’t being heard,” she says.
The NDP candidate is Jacqui Gingras, a sociology professor who has taken a leave of absence to run for office.
“This is my first foray into politics. When Jack Layton passed away I really felt inspired by his life and his contribution to public service, and it was at that point in 2011 where I decided to run for federal politics.”
Gingras believes the economy and the environment are the biggest issues concerning North Okanagan–Shuswap voters.
“To me those are not taken separately. We can actually create a really robust economy, a flourishing economy, by promoting renewable energy jobs,” Gingras says.
Conservative candidate Mel Arnold was not available for an interview today. Instead his campaign provided a written statement.
“Over recent weeks I’ve had the opportunity to speak to hundreds of constituents who have told me that they want a government that prioritizes the health of our economy and low taxes, the creation of jobs, and improvements to infrastructure particularly in our transportation corridors,” Arnold writes.
The Green Party candidate is Notch Hill resident Chris George. George has managed businesses in the past and is currently a full-time student at Thompson Rivers University. He believes the biggest issue for local voters is the economy.
“We have a number of young families who have moved here over the last four years whose fathers and breadwinners work up north,” say George.
“We think it is really important that we start doing something in our local economy to bring those people home so they can be with their families.”
Voters in the north Okanagan and Shuswap regions have only elected right-wing candidates since 1993 – but it seems the other party candidates are gearing up for a tough competition.
To find out what exact riding you live in, visit the Elections Canada website.
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