NDP candidate options Herb Alex, Harpreet Badohal, Miguel Godau, and Linda Sankey.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/NDP
February 20, 2025 - 7:00 PM
With a federal election just around the corner the NDP has announced the the people vying to be the candidate in the riding of Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay.
The seat is currently held by incumbent Richard Cannings who announced his retirement last year, according to an NDP media release issued today, Feb. 20.
The four candidates going for the opportunity to campaign under the orange banner are Herb Alex, Harpreet Badohal, Miguel Godau and Linda Sankey.
“It is encouraging to see such high caliber candidates put their names forward,” Cannings said in the release. “We will need an experienced and adept representative to navigate the challenges that will face our next Parliament. Each of these candidates brings substantial experience and a strong voice to advocate for our unique region.”
Badohal was recently defeated in the provincial election by BC Conservative Gavin Dew in the Kelowna-Mission riding, but he’s looking to try his luck in the federal election. Badohal has worked as a health and safety professional leading teams for the Ministry of Labour.
Alex is from the Osoyoos Indian Band and has decades of experience working with different levels of government to promote sustainability.
Godau has held leadership roles in the Department of Child and Youth Mental Health and is an advocate for helping those dealing with housing, food and job insecurity.
Sankey is the executive director of the Brain Injury Society and has decades of experience including the health-care sector, BC Housing, the Penticton Chamber of Commerce, the City of Penticton Housing Task Force and the 100 More Homes Collaborative.
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“We are committed to a robust democratic process to decide our candidate,” riding president Tina Lee said in the release. “Our region has been incredibly well served by our NDP MP Richard Cannings, and we have truly punched above our weight in a minority government and secured significant gains for our community and our whole country.”
Local NDP members will vote to select a candidate on Saturday, March 1.
“We are hearing that folks don’t trust a Conservative government to protect our services and our economy against U.S. pressures. Our riding has traditionally embraced more progressive values and I’m confident they will see that the only way to stop a Conservative majority is a local vote to elect one of our strong NDP candidates,” Cannings said.
The riding borders have shifted since the 2021 federal election to include the Similkameen Valley and exclude Trail, Slocan Valley and Nakusp.
The party expects a tight race between the NDP and the Conservatives since the Liberals haven’t been competitive in the region in more than 50 years.
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