B.C. Green leadership candidate Jonathan Kerr is set to visit the West Kootenays this week.
Kerr, a family doctor and twice-elected Comox city councillor, entered the party’s leadership race in July. He is running against Emily Lowan from Victoria and Adam Bremner-Akins of Metro Vancouver.
“I’m so excited to be visiting the West Kootenay as part of my leadership campaign tour. There are many dedicated B.C. Greens in the region working to make their community a better place,” said Kerr.
“I can’t wait to talk to folks in Nelson and Kaslo about what’s on their minds and how they can be better represented in Victoria.”
Kerr will be in Nelson on August 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lakeside Park Rotary Shelter to share his vision for the party and how it could improve the quality of life in the region.
On August 9, he’s set to visit Kaslo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 314 D Ave and the farmers’ market.
“The message I’m sharing is how the Greens have the best plan for the economy, housing, and healthcare. Housing is a big issue in the Kootenays, and we need more below-market rental housing. We don’t have enough purpose-built rental and below-market units being constructed – and that’s one issue I really believe the B.C. Greens can champion.”
Party Vision
Kerr promises to shift systems and “make B.C. work,” saying the B.C. NDP and Conservative parties have used U.S President Donald Trump’s tariff threat to “double down” on resource extraction, rather than focusing on building a clean economy.
“We need to be focusing on the future – and the future is clean technologies and a clean economy. You create more jobs in the clean tech sector than in traditional resource extraction sectors. We need a whole mindset shift – it’s better for the environment.”
Kerr is the only candidate with experience serving as an elected official, which he feels makes him stand out from Lowan and Bremner-Akins.
“When we go into the next election, we need a leader who has experience recruiting candidates, building the party, and hitting the ground running on day one. There’s not much time for a learning curve, and I’m ready to do the work from day one.”
None of the three candidates currently hold a seat in the legislature – which Kerr sees as an advantage, as it provides an opportunity to connect with constituents and strengthen riding associations ahead of the next provincial election.
“The real big advantage right now is that the next leader of our party won’t have a seat in the legislature, which gives time to travel the province. I’ve already been to 15 communities in the last three weeks – to travel, recruit great candidates, strengthen our riding associations, and really get ready for the next election.”
West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Jeremy Valeriote was named interim leader of the B.C. Greens after Sonia Furstenau stepped down in January. She had failed to secure a seat in October’s provincial election.
Valeriote is one of two Green Party members in the legislature, with Rob Botterell sitting as MLA for Saanich North and the Islands.
A statement on the party’s website said both Valeriote and Botterell have chosen to focus on their constituencies rather than run for leader.
Voting for the leadership race will run from September 13 to 23, with the results set to be announced on September 24.
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