Unsure who to vote for? Want to know more about your local candidates? Black Press Media has asked candidates to provide a short biography as well as answer key questions to help readers understand more about who is running from Peachland to Coldstream in this upcoming B.C. election. Be sure to check back for updates and videos. 

Harpreet Badohal is a registered occupational and environmental health Professional with an MSc from the UBC Vancouver Faculty of Medicine. Harpreet has another MSc in Botany and worked as a lecturer before moving to Canada in 2006. In his early years in Canada, he balanced parenting his young daughter with jobs in farm labour and pizza delivery, while his wife pursued full-time studies. This experience has served him well as an Officer with the Ministry of Labour in Saskatchewan and now with WorkSafeBC, where he works to protect health and safety in the workplace every day. Now, he hopes to take action as the MLA for 琉璃神社-Mission, to help people build better lives.

What qualifications do you think an MLA should have?

Being a good MLA is not about having an impressive political resume or even a strong educational background. In my opinion, what qualifies someone to be an MLA is empathy, a vision for their community, and commitment to action.

MLAs are advocates, which means it鈥檚 their job to listen and do their best to understand the unique needs of their constituents. They need to value the diversity within their community and have the ability to listen to, learn from, and advocate for those they represent.

MLAs also should have a vision for their community and a desire to take action for the betterment of those they serve.

What qualifications do you have to represent your riding?

Through years of drafting and evaluating policies and leading consultations, I have learned how to navigate complex issues, turning ideas into actionable plans that can make a real difference.

I am well versed in how policy impacts everyday lives and am committed to ensuring decisions are informed by the people directly affected by them.

More importantly, I bring experience working with a wide range of people from front-line workers and industry leaders to community members of diverse backgrounds. I鈥檝e spent my career listening to concerns, understanding different perspectives and collaborating to find common ground.

What political issues will drive voters to the polls this election?

The biggest issues facing residents of BC today are access to healthcare and affordable housing.

Healthcare challenges are being felt across the country, with too many people struggling to get access to a family doctor, or stuck on long wait lists. This is why David Eby has already hired 800 family doctors in the last year, and is hiring and training thousands of doctors, nurses and healthcare workers. John Rustad鈥檚 plan, however, would mean $4.1 billion in cuts, leading to longer waits and making it harder to see a doctor.

While B.C. is a great place to live, there鈥檚 no denying that housing is expensive and residents are struggling. One of the reasons for this is real estate speculators who are driving up housing costs. David Eby and the BC NDP are taking on speculators through the Speculation Tax, which has turned well over 20,000 empty condos into long-term homes. David Eby will also reduce barriers to construction, creating 300,000 middle-class homes.

Rustad plans to cancel these affordable housing measures, axing 300,000 new middle-class homes before they are built and driving housing costs even higher. British Columbians simply cannot afford this right now.

What unique issues are affecting your riding?

Global inflation and high interest rates are hiking costs, and the impacts of that are being felt here in 琉璃神社. What I鈥檓 hearing in conversations with people is that they are really looking for relief when it comes to housing and costs of living. This is why David Eby is taking action to lower everyday costs for British Columbians. David Eby has already reduced insurance rates and will provide $1,000 in immediate relief for the average family every year, starting next year. Meanwhile, Rustad is planning to raise insurance rates and would give tax breaks to the people at the top, rather than those who need it most. Once again, residents of 琉璃神社 can鈥檛 afford that.

琉璃神社 has been greatly impacted by wildfires. In addition to this being a safety issue, wildfires are affecting 琉璃神社鈥檚 tourism and agriculture industries. Residents of 琉璃神社 are looking for strong leadership when it comes to climate action. They want continued investment into tackling wildfires and keeping our communities safe. John Rustad denies climate science and has promised to completely abandon BC鈥檚 climate action plan, which would cost residents of 琉璃神社 greatly.