Thank you for putting your trust in me as your MLA and sending me back to the B.C. legislature to get to work for you.
No one can ever claim B.C. elections are boring.
Oct. 19 was another ride on the roller-coaster we call democracy. It was both thrilling and nerve-racking to watch the numbers come in from Kootenay Central and around the province.
Once all the absentee and special ballots were counted, it became clear David Eby and the B.C. NDP were elected to govern the province. We’re looking forward to working on the things that matter most to British Columbians, like health care, the cost of living and climate action.
I like to remind people of that other wild ride — in 2017 when the legislature was also a tight race and outcome.
Since 2017, we've navigated a pandemic with health and economic outcomes better than any province in Canada, grappled with global inflation and built more affordable and supportive housing for our communities than ever before during those years, all while rebuilding our health-care system and doubling down on climate action.
We know there's more work to do, and we'll continue working for people over the next four years on these issues and more.
Having said that, I'm sad to see that B.C. lost some terrific MLAs in this election and my heart goes out to them and their constituents.
Particularly, I want to thank Roly Russell for being such a great MLA for Boundary-Similkameen, and an excellent carpool companion on frequent trips to the legislature. He has a remarkable mind, and has been a great representation for rural B.C. I will miss my colleagues like Roly, but am thankful that I was able to make friends for life in the last four years in the legislature.
Here in the riding, I want to thank Kelly Vanderberghe, Nicole Charlwood and Corinne Mori for their participation in this election.
It is not easy to put yourself out there and run for public office, and the campaign trail that takes months of preparation and thought. Then, the actual election period is a flat-out sprint of door-to-door campaigning, all-candidates forums and interviews. It's a significant amount of work and in the end there can only be one MLA-elect. Thank you for your service and for throwing your hat into the ring for our province and neighbours.
Thank you as well to the many volunteers around the province who helped on the campaign trail, not just mine, but on all campaigns. Whether it is making hours of phone calls, knocking on doors, hammering up signs (and taking them down), co-ordinating all-candidates forums, helping people get to polls, scrutineering, or more, there’s so much that goes into an election.Participation is what makes democracy work in this province, and that should never be taken for granted.
Additionally, I have the deepest respect for Elections BC staff who were nothing but professional during the election period, and when counting mail-in and absentee ballots and dealing with judicial recounts.
I am so grateful to everyone across the province who voted, your voice always matters, and we saw clearly this election how just a few votes can make a difference.
And again, I want to thank the people of Kootenay Central for putting their trust in me as their MLA for another term. I do not take this job lightly and my team and I are honoured to work on your behalf. I never lose sight of the fact that it is a privilege to serve you, and I'll do my very best until the next B.C. roller-coaster election ride.
On that you have my word.
