Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon has been nominated as the BC NDP candidate for a newly redrawn electoral area, Chilliwack-Cultus Lake.
The nomination took place May 26 at a meeting of the Chilliwack-Cultus Lake riding association. A press release notes that Paddon promises “to take on the tough challenges to make life better for people.”
Paddon was first elected in Chilliwack-Kent in 2020, and currently serves as the Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity. Prior to entering politics, Paddon worked as a community support worker, youth employment counsellor and instructor. The press release notes that Paddon has “dedicated her career to supporting families and people so they can build good lives.”
Paddon is a longtime Chilliwack resident, along with her husband and two children and is “passionate about building a diverse and inclusive community where everyone is accepted and respected.”
READ MORE: New names, boundaries for Chilliwack ridings set for next election
When the election is held in October this year, Chilliwack-Kent will become Chilliwack-Cultus Lake. The elected MLA will represent 53,148 citizens, and the riding will be losing the communities of Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs and the northern Harrison Lake section, but gaining Yarrow, Promontory, Cultus Lake, the Eastern Hillsides, and Ryder Lake.
“Chilliwack is an amazing place to live and raise a family and there’s much more we can do to help people thrive here,” said Paddon. “Our BC NDP team is taking action to ease everyday costs with car insurance savings, BC Hydro rebates, and child care savings, improve health care, take on housing speculators and build homes people can afford. John Rustad’s Conservative Party would increase fees, let speculators drive up the cost of homes and cut hospitals and education again. We can’t risk that.”
The May 26 press release outlined some of the work undertaken by the NDP government that would have an impact on Chilliwack. The list includes “strengthening healthcare by hiring 700 more doctors, licensing internationally trained health professionals to work in B.C., and investing in upgrades to Chilliwack General Hospital.”
“Kelli Paddon is a champion for people in her community, and is always focused on ways to make life better in her community,” said Premier David Eby. “She’s been a strong voice for building more homes people can afford, improving healthcare, fixing infrastructure and creating communities where everyone belongs so people can build a good life here.”
The other candidates for the Chilliwack-Cultus Lake riding so far are Sue Knott, a former city councillor running for BC United, and filmmaker Á’a:líya Warbus for the BC Conservatives.
So far there are 91 NDP candidates across the province, and there will be 93 electoral districts following the boundary adjustments that will come into effect with the election expected in October.
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