Kelowna-Lake Country Green Party candidate says it's time for decisions that work for all constituents

Imre Szeman admits he doesn't live in the riding, but Winlaw resident Dr. Imre Szeman says he has a pretty good knowledge of the issues facing Kelowna-Lake Country constituents.

Szeman, the Research Chair and Professor of Communication Arts at the University of Waterloo, is the Green Party candidate in the riding.

"I felt it was time, after what seemed to be very little action on climate change to begin to make a difference by contributing what I can," Szeman said during a one-on-one interview with Castanet News.

Along with his role at the University of Waterloo, Szeman is also the Green Party's climate critic in Ottawa.

Szeman says he hasn't been parachuted into the riding, saying his first job was at what was then Okanagan University College in 1995 and, since then, "has spent a lot of time paying attention to what's happening in the B.C. Interior generally.

"There are specific issues in Kelowna-Lake Country, but a lot of issues KLC faces are like the rest of Canada, with different pressures."

Social issues around housing and the opioid crisis are just two of those.

He says proposals put forth by both the Liberals and Conservatives during the campaign related to housing speak more to reducing costs rather than increasing supply.

"Something like trying to minimize foreign holders of Canadian property...it's a bit of a red herring. They are treating it as an elephant in the room, when actually it is a bit of an invention. It doesn't reduce supply.

"If I had to put forward a beginning point, it would be helping to create affordable housing, mixed-unit housing with both owners and people renting from government. These kinds of things have been done in other cities, perhaps ramping up that would start to begin to deal with what has become an enormous challenge in Canadian life."

Szeman says people are going to say they can do lots of things during an election campaign when, in reality he says, real estate is not a mandate of the federal government.

To make it work, he says there needs to be co-operation with all levels of government.

As for COVID, Szeman says he personally believes it would be best if everyone is double vaccinated to protect those around you.

While a younger person may not feel the full effect of the virus, he says they could infect others who could become very ill, or die.

"This is a community effort."

Szeman says if elected, as a member of the Green Party's shadow cabinet, he would be someone who could speak directly to government.

he would also reach out to constituents, talk through issues and problems and "begin to make decisions about what has to be done alongside you.

"Ultimately, an MP is not about somebody that is pitching policies to you which is what happens when an election is called.

"It's about having a discussion with all of you so that we can make some decisions that will work for you as people living in the riding, and for Canadians as well."

You can watch the entire interview below.

One-on-one interviews with all candidates in both Kelowna ridings will be published in the coming days.