VIDEO: Petition calls on Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA to resign

A petition has been launched calling for Kelowna-Lake Country Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong to resign.

The effort on change.org comes after Armstrong's decision to leave the BC Conservatives.

"I don't think that is democratic, nor is it fair or right to the electorate of this riding," said Nikki Sinclair, who started the petition.

Sinclair points out that since Armstrong was a no-show for pre-election debates, voters clearly voted her in because of her party affiliation.

"If she wishes to resign from the party that she stood for in the election, then she should resign from the legislature as a whole."

Armstrong gave up her party affiliation out of sympathy for fellow Conservative MLA Dallas Brodie.

Brodie, the former attorney general critic for the Conservatives, was tossed from the party caucus over her comments about residential schools.

Armstrong and Peace River MLA Jordan Kealy both left the party to side with Brody in the rift.

That leaves three former BC Conservatives sitting as independents and considering starting a new party of their own.

"We should have a by-election," insists Sinclair. "The people should have the right to speak on whether they still want her as their representative."

The rookie MLA's decision to leave the party comes while complaints were mounting about her availability to constituents.

"I've certainly been hearing more and more and more that Ms Armstrong wasn't available for people, " said Lake Country Mayor Blair Ireland Monday.

Coldstream Mayor Ruth Hoyte had similar remarks.

"Many comments in the community wonder where she has been," said Hoyte.

That's also part of what's fuelling the initiative.

"Ms. Armstrong does seem to have been missing in action," said Sinclair.

"My understanding is it's been very difficult to get ahold of her."

She also notes that she was "invisible", during the lead-up to the election.

In an email to KelownaNow, Armstrong said her new constituency office will open when renovations are complete.

"While I know the political affiliation concerns are there," she added, "what I will say is that this in no way will affect my ability to represent my constituents."

Sinclair disagrees, and she wants legislation to force MLAs to answer to the voters when they abandon the party affiliation they were elected under.

She admits the petition can't force anyone's hand, but it sends a message.

"The more people that sign, the louder the message is," she said.

"This is about our democracy."