Three candidates will run in Kelowna-West's upcoming byelection, including NDP candidate, Shelley Cook, Liberal candidate, Ben Stewart and B.C. Green Party candidate, Robert Stupka.
B.C. Green Party leader, Andrew Weaver, announced on Monday that Stupka would run in the Kelowna-West byelection, which takes place in January 2018.
“The Kelowna West riding is one of Canada’s fastest growing regions with some of the best economic performance,” stated Stupka. “The exceptional quality of life attracted me to live here. The potential of the region has led me to build my family and home here and has inspired me to make a positive contribution to its future."
Congratulations to Robert Stupka, our candidate for the #KelownaWest by-election! Robert is a professional engineer, Certified Passive House Designer and business partner at Nido Design Inc. Learn more about Robert: https://t.co/ubM1rc7CqJ #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/rcdroliCwp
— BC Green Party (@BCGreens) December 4, 2017
Stupka is an engineer, a house designer and a business partner at Nido Design Inc.
He moved to B.C. in the mid-2000s for the skiing and in 2012, he received the Young Professional of the Year Award from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C.
He aims to highlight issues around housing and the opioid crisis.
“Robert is an exceptional candidate who is driven by a vision of sustainability and leadership. He is keen to share his passion for building the economy of the 21st century and strong evidence-based policy for British Columbia," stated Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Green Party.
This afternoon, a packed house of supporters — including Premier @jjhorgan — acclaimed Shelley Cook as the BC NDP nominee for Kelowna West in the forthcoming by-election. Please join us in welcoming her! pic.twitter.com/znpCanjSRp
— BC NDP (@bcndp) December 4, 2017
BC NDP candidate, Shelley Cook, ran in the previous Kelowna-West election and was named on Sunday as the BC NDP candidate.
Cook has received plenty of support from Premier John Horgan for taking up her post again.
The former director of the John Howard Society also chaired the City of Kelowna's Housing Committee and the Treatment Pillar for the Central Okanagan Four Pillars Coalition.
“I’m honoured to run again as the BC NDP candidate in my home riding of Kelowna West, and to stand with Premier John Horgan,” said Cook. “I’m so proud of the work John Horgan's BC NDP government has done to make life more affordable, deliver better services to people, and promote good-paying jobs and opportunity for everyone. I'm eager to be a part of what comes next.”
BC Liberal candidate, Ben Stewart, will run in place of Christy Clark. His nomination was announced earlier this fall.
The Okanagan resident has been a longtime supporter of the BC wine industry and is a strong advocate for small businesses.
“Representing the constituents of Kelowna West and serving British Columbia has been the honour of my lifetime, and I’m humbled by the community’s support and this opportunity to serve again,” Stewart said. “My team and I are ready to work hard and win this by-election – now all we need is for the NDP to call it so I can get back to standing up for jobs and a strong economy, here in the Okanagan and throughout BC.”
This byelection is due to former BC premier and BC Liberal leader, Christy Clark, resigning from her seat on August 4th after losing the confidence vote.
The BC Government must call the byelection by February 2018.
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