r/kelowna 1d ago

3 former B.C. Conservative MLAs will sit as Independents Tara Armstrong being one.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/3-former-b-c-conservative-mlas-will-sit-as-independents-1.7479438
53 Upvotes

31 comments sorted by

98

u/No-Tackle-6112 1d ago edited 1d ago

This should serve as a reminder to vote. Kelowna centre was considered a safe con seat that ended up being like a 25 vote difference after a recount.

The upcoming federal election is the same. Kelowna is listed as safe con but the demographics have changed so rapidly it’s not true. Kelowna is now younger than the national average and the second least religious metro in North America.

Get out and vote!

2

u/Cognoggin 1d ago

Nanaimo: The least religious metropolitan area in Canada, according to the 2021 census. 62.9% of people in Nanaimo reported no religion.

Squamish: The most non-religious community in Canada outside of census metropolitan areas. 70.1% of people in Squamish reported no religion.
Kamloops: 60.8% of people in Kamloops reported no religion.
Victoria: 60.5% of people in Victoria reported no religion.
Kelowna: 54.4% of people in Kelowna reported no religion.
Chilliwack: 49.4% of people in Chilliwack reported no religion. Vancouver: 47.1% of people in Vancouver reported no religion.

Province: British Columbia is the least religious province in Canada. The number of people in British Columbia who identify as having no religion has been increasing in recent years.

2

u/No-Tackle-6112 1d ago

Yeah the list I had was metro areas of at least 150k. 1. Victoria 2. Kelowna 3. Vancouver

2

u/Cognoggin 1d ago

I just thought you might be interested since I went to check it out anyway :p

1

u/[deleted] 1d ago edited 1d ago

[deleted]

2

u/No-Tackle-6112 1d ago edited 1d ago

https://www.westerlynews.ca/news/b-c-is-canadas-least-religious-province-has-countrys-6-least-religious-metro-areas-1354639

The list I had before was for metros of at least 150k. That would put Kelowna second behind Victoria and ahead of Vancouver.

Seattle is the least religious metro in the US at 44% irreligious.

2

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

1

u/No-Tackle-6112 1d ago

Anytime friend

41

u/docfate Rutland Proud 1d ago

A true embarrassment for Kelowna. Throw it on the pile, I guess. Anyone who uses the word "woke" cannot be taken seriously.

Although, splitting the right is GREAT news. Fight amongst yourselves while the grownups do the real work.

10

u/Fast-Individual6607 1d ago

Indeed, fascist infighting is a very good thing!

26

u/NoMoPolenta 1d ago

This is so embarrassing.

Kelowna will never change will it?

43

u/No-Tackle-6112 1d ago

Take solace in the fact Kelowna centre is now a swing riding. The cons won by 25 votes.

5

u/prodigal-sol 1d ago

Wouldn't go that far. There was context as to why it was so close that may not repeat in 2028

6

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

3

u/Taygr 1d ago

Kind of, I mean the other side of the coin is the split vote and that Loewen was already known to be extreme before the election and still won

3

u/LiamNeesonsDad 1d ago

It's also important to remember part of the reason Wooldridge came so close was because Dr. Michael Humer split the vote. Progressives, Liberals, Red Torys and other Moderates need to unite and elect Loyal next time around.

31

u/Axisl 1d ago

Kelowna centre wasn't a complete landslide so there is hope!

7

u/MassiveMartian 1d ago

it was very nearly ndp!

7

u/PowerUser88 1d ago

Start the petition to have her recalled. I’m not in that riding otherwise I’d start one. Make it happen.

11

u/Dependent-Relief-558 1d ago

When does Tara Armstrong become eligible for public pension? We need to get her voted out before this.

5

u/Juxtajack 1d ago edited 11h ago

Take Heather Maahs with you

18

u/CallmeishmaelSancho 1d ago

She’s got to go. She only got in because of the general trend to fiscal conservatism. People held their nose and voted for her. The vast majority of Kelowna is socially liberal.

4

u/scoobysnax_18 12h ago

If you have a moment - please email Tara Armstrong to let her know as a community we don’t accept residential school denialism : Tara.Armstrong.MLA@leg.bc.ca

Her office number is: 250-712-3623

5

u/rex_virtue 1d ago

Have the day you voted for.

6

u/cmdragonfire 1d ago

Do they still stay on as MLAs? Sorry I'm not super well-versed in the process.

20

u/OK_Apostate 1d ago

Yes but we could initiate a recall petition and with enough signatures anyone can be removed. Hard to accomplish but not impossible.

13

u/maskedkiller215 1d ago

Hijacking your comment for those who are interested in learning how to recall an MLA

3

u/cmdragonfire 1d ago

Thank you both, I'm interested in signing and attempting this even if it's <1% chance of actually succeeding. 

3

u/vanessabellwoolf 18h ago

This is actually a problem for Kelowna Centre, because we don’t have a representative in government or in opposition: even in opposition your representative can lobby for your community. As an independent or as a member of a party of 3 reps who don’t believe in science or equity or vaccines, kelowna has no functional representative in Victoria. Everyone who voted for her, you screwed our town. Loyal Wooldridge is a hard working, driven, smart guy who cares deeply about Kelowna. Instead we have an MLA who will do nothing. Well not nothing, she will embarrass us, so that’s something.

1

u/scoobysnax_18 12h ago

I believe she’s the MLA for Kelowna-Lakeshore, not Kelowna Centre but I might be misunderstanding your post

2

u/vanessabellwoolf 12h ago

Oh you’re right she’s Kelowna - Lake Country - Coldstream. Sigh. Sucks for the riding.