The British Columbia government’s handling of the health record prompted a Vernon, British Columbia, resident to launch a recall campaign for her local New Democrat member of the legislature.
Genevieve Ring says Vernon-Monashie MLA Harwinder Sandhu should be recalled because she is part of an NDP government that has failed British Columbians on the critical issues of COVID-19 and health care.
Ring says she is not ready to wait until the next election, scheduled for fall 2024, to make changes to improve health care.
Elections BC says in a statement that it has received a petition application from Ring that meets the requirements of the Recall and Initiative Act and will issue the petition on August 12.
Any registered voter in British Columbia can apply to issue a recall petition for their constituency as long as they submit an application form, a $50 processing fee and a brief statement of why the MLA should be recalled.
Sandhu says she will not be intimidated by what she calls “a small group of extreme activists who do not represent the vast majority of people” in the riding.
The MLA, who worked as a registered nurse at Vernon’s Royal Jubilee Hospital before being elected in 2020, says she stands behind the decisions the Government has made to keep residents and frontline workers safe during of the pandemic.
“I’ve worked really hard to diligently represent all the people of Vernon-Monashie and will continue to do so every day because I’m so proud of the people I represent,” Sandhu said in a statement Monday.
Elections BC says for the recall petition to be successful, campaigners must collect signatures from 40 per cent of eligible voters, or 21,268 people, by October 11.
Of the 26 previously approved petitions since the act came into force in 1995, none have resulted in the recall of an MLA, according to Elections BC However, if there is to be a successful recall petition, by-elections must be called elections within 90 days and the retired MLA will be allowed to work.
“There has to be some kind of debt they feel to the people they’re supposed to represent, and she’s done nothing,” Ring said, referring to Sandhu.
“I would say the NDP has failed for two whole years and she’s part of that.”
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