Sparwood District Municipal Councillor Sam Atwal has accepted the BC NDP nomination in Kootenay-Rockies.

Sam Atwal is focused on strengthening his community and making life easier for young people and families. In addition to his work as District Municipal Councillor, Sam has also worked with Strengthening Early Years transitions to Kindergarten, Youth Action Sparwood, and other organizations, boards and committees. Born and raised in mining towns from Manitoba to Alberta, Sam understands the challenges facing these communities, and is focused on taking action to help people in this region build good lives.

“People in Kootenay-Rockies know that we need a government that will act to make life affordable. Our BC NDP government has been leading the way, with bold and decisive action on housing, healthcare and the cost of living,” said Atwal. “John Rustad has said that he’d rip up our housing action plan and take us backward. We can’t afford the risk.”

Since forming government in July 2017, the BC NDP has taken action on crucial issues that matter to the people of Kootenay-Rockies, including:

• Putting people ahead of speculators and investors by bringing in tough new restrictions on short-term rentals and a speculation tax, plus simplified approvals that make it easier and faster to get 300,000 new homes built;
• Connecting people to the care they need by hiring 700 more family doctors, licensing internationally-educated healthcare workers in BC and building a new medical school at SFU Surrey to train even more doctors;
• Putting money back in your pocket by eliminating MSP premiums, lowering ICBC rates by $500 a year and boosting the BC Family Benefit by $445; and
• Taking action to create 75,000 good paying jobs in the last year to make BC an economic leader in Canada, with the highest wages in the country.

“As an elected official in Sparwood, and as a volunteer with kids and young adults, Sam works every day to make his community stronger,” said Premier David Eby. “The people of Kootenay-Rockies need homes they can afford, a stronger public healthcare system, and money back in their pocket. Sam will deliver. He is in your corner.”

Sam Atwal will join David Eby and 91 other exceptional BC NDP candidates in this fall’s provincial election, all committed to real action to help people build a good life here in BC.