The federal NDP have chosen Linda Sankey to be the next candidate to run in the Similkameen - South Okanagan - West Kootenay riding and she says it’s an honour to have been chosen to be the successor to retiring Richard Cannings.
The fellow Penticton resident was confirmed to be the winner on March 3 after a weekend-long voting process. There were four candidates for the riding: Sankey, Herb Alex, Harpreet Badohal and Miguel Godau.
“When the results came in, folks who know me know I’m a very chatty person, but I was actually moved to very few words,” she said.”For a few minutes, I was excited, happy, a range of emotions. My family were close by and they whispered ‘We knew you were going to get it.”
While she couldn’t say how the voting went, she did say it was a clear win for her. However, she still had much praise for all the candidates.
“They are all incredibly qualified folks and now I’m really excited to have the opportunity to work through this process, practicing what to say, how to say it and meeting folks.”
On her background, Sankey has 30 years of experience in the South Okanagan working with both local and provincial governments, according to a news release from the NDP. She has been heavily involved with the City of Penticton Housing Task Force and is Co-Chair of the 100 More Homes Penticton Collaborative which has been a key factor in the success of the temporary winter shelter that made real inroads in connecting 65 individuals to life-saving services.
Sankey has worked with BC Housing and is currently the executive director of the South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society where she manages multiple housing projects, large capital projects and complex relationships at all levels of government. Sankey also recently served on the Penticton Chamber of Commerce where she has been a strong voice for local business owners.
Sankey stated her platform will be all-encompassing, explaining her work in social housing and brain injury affects all facets of society, from industry to education.
“It’s going to be wide-ranging,” she said. “Housing is something I’m really passionate about. As an executive director, I’m helping to operate seven low-income housing properties with a range of people we are serving, from families to seniors and people with disabilities. Affordability issues are also an issue, and of course, our economy is important because I’ve been a member of the Chamber of Commerce. I've got really big connections there.”
Working with people with brain injuries, she’s helped people who can still work find jobs in multiple sectors by retraining them, back into the workforce and supporting themselves, and in turn back to contributing to the economy.
Her nomination win comes as the Trump administration in the United States imposed long-threatened 25 per cent economy-wide tariffs, as well as a federal election that could be called as soon as this spring.
“Industries in our region are struggling and with new threats from our southern neighbours, we need someone who has the trust and confidence of business, I am that person. Families, seniors, and young professionals need to be able to thrive in our region. To achieve that the federal government needs to do its part” said Sankey.
Cannings, who has won the riding in the past three elections, said he will be helping Sankey in her campaign, as well as preparing her for federal political life in Ottawa if she wins.
However, he too praised the quality and gravitas of all the candidates who ran for the nomination.
“I’m happy and I’ll say I was happy with all four candidates and would’ve supported any of them (if they had won,) he said. “It’s quite a crazy climate in politics right now, but four people stepped up and that takes courage. I’m happy we have Linda as a candidate and will work hard to make sure she is elected because when you look at the NDP, 25 MPs out of 338 have accomplished in the last four-to-10 years, pharmacare, dental care, child care, protections for workers. We’ve accomplished a lot for Canadians in these times of inflation.”
In a statement, federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh announced, “I’m thrilled to have Linda joining the NDP team... She’s spent her life in Similkameen – South Okanagan – West Kootenay and knows the people and needs of her community."
"Times are tough, costs are sky-high, and now we’re facing threats from Donald Trump. Hardworking people need someone in their corner who’s fighting for them, not Conservatives who will cut to give more to billionaires. Linda is on your side," Singh added.
The federal Conservatives have yet to choose a candidate to run and Cannings said it’s likely going to be a tight race between the two parties. Liberal candidates have not been competitive in the riding since 1967.
