‘Not what we voted for’: Constituents launch recall campaign against Kelowna-area MLA

A group that has been organizing a campaign to recall Kelowna–Lake Country–Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong says she no longer represents the priorities or values of her constituents.

Once a recall petition is approved by Elections BC, they hope to prove themselves right in the form of 20,000 signatures collected from the 50,000 eligible voters in the riding.

Armstrong is currently serving as an independent MLA, but was a member of the Conservative Party of BC when elected before briefly serving with Dallas Brodie as part of OneBC.

"I voted Conservative and Ms. Armstrong has turned out to be something else,” explains Lake Country resident Garth C. “Frankly, I feel betrayed. She has abused my trust in the political system."

Another local resident, John Plant, who is an advertising sponsor of the recall campaign, says that Armstrong “is not what we voted for.”

"She has been unavailable to people in our community – voters, local government, reporters – from the very beginning," he claims.

"Right now, when people here are worried about healthcare, affordability and housing, she is choosing to focus on sowing political division and creating controversy.”

According to the recall campaign, Armstrong’s departure from the Conservatives is just one reason why they want her out as their MLA.

Her focus on controversial social issues – such as proposing a new BC holiday honouring the Freedom Convoy or squabbles with Central Okanagan Public Schools – have also been cited as reasons that constituents are disillusioned with her representation.

"I'm a strong conservative and Tara Armstrong isn't representing our riding," notes Doug Borthwick of the Ellison area. "She's pushing her own agenda and ideals. If she is the Conservative candidate, I'm not voting for her next time."

Like Plant, Borthwick is also unhappy about Armstrong’s lack of engagement with residents who live in her riding.

"She ghosted the constituents and doesn't listen to us at all,” he adds. “You can't do that as an MLA."

While the campaign has now been launched through an online website, it has not yet officially begun and is still awaiting approval from Elections BC.

Under BC’s Recall and Initiative Act, a successful recall campaign has 60 days to collect valid signatures from at least 40% of eligible voters in the electoral district.

Organizers say they’re currently recruiting volunteers and building community support as they prepare for the formal 60-day recall process.

"The message we're hearing from people across the riding is that they want better representation," explains Plant. "This campaign is about giving voters the opportunity to decide whether Tara Armstrong still has their confidence."

There has never been a successful recall campaign in BC, although one is presumed to have gained enough signatures before the MLA resigned.

Elections BC approved a recall petition against Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie, leader of OneBC, in May, and it has until July 20 to get just over 15,000 signatures.

More information on the campaign to recall Tara Armstrong can be found here.