Congratulations to our New NDP Candidate Kallee Lins

Real Solutions

Real change starts with putting people first - building a future where workers have good-paying jobs, families can afford homes, and everyone has access to the care and services they need. For too long, the Liberals and Conservatives have favoured corporate profits over people’s well-being, leaving communities struggling with affordability and insecurity.

I know we can create real opportunities in the Kootenays by investing in local economies, strengthening public services, and building safer, more affordable communities. That means creating stable jobs, with fair wages, building affordable homes, that meet the needs of families, and expanding healthcare supports, that cover prescriptions, dental care, and provide mental health support.

It also means delivering the secure retirement Canadians deserve, ensuring no one is left behind, and tackling the root causes of crime and addiction with compassion and accountability. My commitment is to bring better service, stronger representation, and practical solutions back to the Columbia Kootenays—because real prosperity is built from the ground up, by and for the people who call this region home.

Make it Right

In my roles as a Nelson, BC Councillor, Regional Director in the Central Kootenay, and President of the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments (AKBLG), I prioritize both environmental stewardship and reconciliation with Indigenous communities. Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) has guided these efforts, prompting us to integrate Indigenous perspectives into our decision-making processes and ensure equitable representation.

Our work involves close relationships with the Sinixt (Arrow Lakes), Ktunaxa, Syilx (Okanagan), and Secwépemc (Shuswap) Nations, each of which maintains deep historical ties to this region. By engaging with Elders and knowledge-keepers, we learn about traditional land stewardship practices and cultural values that inform effective watershed restoration, habitat conservation, and climate resilience initiatives.

To support this collaboration, we offer cultural competency training for staff, leaders, and community members, going beyond simple awareness-raising to cultivate a respectful, ongoing dialogue. We’ve have supported projects that protect key habitats, advance sustainable forest management, foster new economic opportunities in green infrastructure and eco-tourism, and reformed bylaws and policies to include first nation as equal members in our organizations.

Ultimately, by combining reconciliation efforts with sound environmental policies, we strive to build a healthier, more inclusive future for all who call the Kootenays home.