B.C. NDP MLA Brittny Anderson is preparing to fight for Kootenay Central from the opposition benches after the B.C. Conservatives secured a majority government in Saturday’s provincial election.
Anderson edged out Conservative challenger Gordon Skulnec by just 466 votes, according to preliminary results.
While she’s honoured and grateful voters have given her a third term, Anderson has concerns about the incoming government’s approach to health care, education and the environment.
“I’m deeply concerned with the cuts that the Conservatives are gonna make to health care and education,” Anderson said.
“I think they have a total disregard for our environment. Many of them do not even believe in climate change, and that concerns me.”
Despite those concerns, Anderson is open to working with the incoming government on issues affecting the region.
“I’ve worked with Lorne [Doerkson] for the last six years, and I really hope that he does his best for British Columbians, and I’m willing to work with him across the aisle on what is most important for my community,” she said.
Anderson acknowledged the provincial results weren’t what she expected but said voters’ decision must be respected.
“We didn’t know what the result was gonna look like. I did not expect that we would be so far behind in the polls. But that’s what the people decided, and we have to respect that,” she said.
Regardless of the political landscape in Victoria, Anderson said her commitment to the region remains unchanged.
“It just means that I’m gonna have to fight harder,” she said. “I will never stop fighting for our community. It’s the most important thing for me.”
Anderson won 39.5 per cent of the vote, narrowly defeating Skulnec, who received 37.1 per cent. Green Party candidate Nicole Charlwood finished third with 19.6 per cent, followed by OneBC candidate Hunter Corrigal with 3.8 per cent.
Anderson was first elected to serve as the ridings MLA in 2020; however, this will be her first time doing so from the opposition benches.
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