Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu at the tour of Vernon's new Lakers Child Care facility in September, 2022 (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

new duties

Vernon’s MLA not predicting early election, reaffirms commitment to represent constituents

Jan 4, 2023 | 6:00 AM

The MLA for Vernon-Monashee does not expect an election will be called in 2023, but if one is, she will be ready to seek a second term.

“We are focused on the work we’re doing and delivering results and I don’t see any indication for an election sooner than it is supposed to be which is [October] 2024,” Harwinder Sandhu told Vernon Matters.

The NDP MLA said her plans are to run again whenever an election is called.

“I will definitely run for the next term as well as we’ve started tons of great work, we’ve made so much progress, but we need to do so much more and I would really like to continue the work that we started in the people of Vernon-Monashee see me fit,” said Sandhu.

“It will be a true honour again in order to carry on the work because, as I said, it’s just a start and we need to do much more which I am fully committed to do so and I will definitely run again after this term.”

buying American

New Prospera Place scoreboard from American company

1h ago

bust

Dozens of weapons seized in Sutherland Avenue bust

3h ago

Water Polo Program

Former Olympians to help launch Youth Water Polo in Vernon

3h ago

Sandhu said her work in 2023 will be similar to her actions taken the previous year: doing her best to represent the needs of her constituents in Victoria.

“I’ve heard from local leaders that we have seen a record number of investments in the last three years in Vernon-Monashee, which we have never seen before,” Sandhu said.

“We always have to tell people in the government what our priorities and what our needs are, and that advocacy piece is so important. And we’ve seen direct results in many areas. I always like to remind people that the work we’re doing, and the work we’ve done, is not it. We will continue to do more to continue to make sure we have one of the best communities here.”

In December of 2022, Sandhu was assigned a new role as Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors’ Services and Long Term Care, and was also moved from the Finance Committee to the Treasury Board, named Deputy Chair for the Government Caucus, and named as a member of the Committee for Economic Recovery.

She told Vernon Matters she would be using these new positions to also advocate for local citizens.

“I’ll have the perspective that I bring from my previous work, whether in health care [as a nurse] or working with the community, but also from the Vernon-Monashee area,” Sandhu explained

“All these very important roles are going to make a real difference. And I will continue to meet more people [in the riding] to see how they like their priorities laid out and what is their feedback that I can take to the table directly utilizing my roles, not only as MLA, but in these other important roles that I have been given so that we make the best out of it.”

The first term MLA added she felt confident about the government’s ability to provide more for her constituents in 2023.

Sandhu is very confident in the newly appointed Premier, David Eby, and his ability to lead the province, pointing to his previous work in “complex fields” including addressing the so-called “ICBC dumpster fire,” housing, and starting the process of taking pharmaceutical companies to court for their role in the opioid crisis.

Sandhu noted that Eby’s 100 Day Action Plan launched in November 2022 has already led to work starting in addressing issues in the health care sector and affordability issues.

She also expressed confidence in the “experienced, diverse caucus,” adding the new Housing and Climate Change and Emergency Preparedness ministries will be beneficial to both Vernon-Monashee and the province as a whole.

Though she was mainly optimistic about the future, Sandhu did note some challenges may present themselves throughout the year, including further global inflation, but stated the province would take actions to ensure the economy is supported and that British Columbians face minimal impacts.