Liberals don’t value Kelowna monopoly

Dear editor: With the Kelowna West by-election, voters will be returning to the provincial polls for the fourth time in four years. Do we continue to elect a party that doesn’t seem to value its near monopoly on our region?

It’s important to think about the impact your vote could have over the next four years. Who you elect will not change the governing party, but there is a chance to have at least one voice that can represent our region’s unique needs and have an influence on policy. A BC Green vote will achieve that.

I chose to run for the Green Party because I have a young family and care deeply about the future of this region. I want my son to be able to afford to live here and experience the qualities we love of this place.

As an engineer, I have first-hand experience with projects that relate to provincial and local issues. The big political parties all too often set policy based on their own agenda, as opposed to what’s best for people and the long-term economic and social wellbeing of our province. Kelowna-West has the opportunity to be a leader in 21st-century city building and to seize the emerging economy.

BC Greens bring fiscal responsibility, integrity, and evidence-based decision making to B.C. politics. They have shaped policy with both the BC Liberals and BC NDP for the better as well as holding the parties to account.

BC Greens lead important conversations neglected by the other parties. Just last week, we raised the need to consider New Zealand policy to ban foreign ownership as one way to cool the housing market, a sustainable funding model and strategy to save collapsing wildlife populations, and ride-hailing to provide greater transportation options and also signal to the world B.C. embraces innovation.

The BC Greens are also committed to this region and winning your support. Two weeks ago, Andrew Weaver and I hosted a town hall where 160 of you had your questions answered with genuine responses. There will be more opportunities to engage on issues that matter to you.

For the first time, a true majority of B.C. voices are being represented in Victoria. A vote for me is the only vote that will give Kelowna-West literally a front-row seat that will elevate the discourse in the legislature and support everything this region wants to become. Robert Stupka Kelowna-West Green Party candidate