As the provincial elections grow near, get to know your local BC Conservative candidate for the Columbia River-Revelstoke riding: Scott McInnis.
Who is Scott McInnis?
For the past 15 years, Scott McInnis and his family have called the town of Kimberley home.
After moving to Kimberley in 2010 and meeting his wife, the pair welcomed a son who they’re still raising in the community.
McInnis has an extensive background in education. He has built a career locally in the independent school system, where he taught elementary-aged students, and later became the principal and childcare manager at the Kimberley Independent School.
Eventually, McInnis pivoted to the public education system and is currently a librarian, social studies, and leadership teacher at Selkirk Secondary School, where he also serves as the acting on-call principal when needed.
Formerly a BC United Party candidate, McInnis was asked to join the BC Conservatives in September when the BCUP folded. He has worked hard for the last six months to build a sense of trust within his riding, and he believes he can offer what his constituents need.
“My message for voters and for those who have met me is that I am who I am: a person who responds to emails, returns phone calls, and engages with messages on social media. This is what it’s about for me—working for you.
This is the main reason why I’m doing this: to represent you and address your concerns here locally. If you want somebody you can rely on, who’s going to have your back and represent you in rural British Columbia, I’m your choice.”
He and his family enjoy the outdoors and spend lots of time hiking, fly-fishing, hunting, and camping.
The Issues: Healthcare, Affordability, Agriculture
For McInnis, the number one issue in his riding surrounds rural healthcare access.
“We have a major healthcare crisis here in Columbia River-Revelstoke. We have constituents who did not receive the provincial rural retention incentive for healthcare workers in Cranbrook and Kimberley.
We have people who need acute care who used to receive that care in Alberta but no longer have access to it. We have seniors facing transportation issues to get to the East Kootenay Regional Health Centre for appointments.”
McInnis wants to improve access to specialized treatment in Alberta, stating that having to drive seven hours to Kelowna is often more dangerous in the winter than the specific medical issue one is facing.
Other concerns in his riding include how the province manages its agricultural land reserves, wildlife, and housing.
He says conversations with local ranchers and others in the agriculture sector have identified a need to update components of the province’s agricultural land reserve and implement more science-based decision-making and solutions for the region’s fish, wildlife, and waterway management.
Affordability, like in most of the province, is also a major concern in his riding.
McInnis says his riding’s communities are highly sought after, but there are only so many places to build, creating a competitive market for housing.
“We need to work hard on opening up housing. Affordable housing is a big part of that, but we also need single-family homes as well. More product on the market will help stabilize housing prices here in Columbia River-Revelstoke.”
Final Words
Regardless of the outcome on election night, McInnis feels incredibly grateful for his experiences during his campaign.
“I’ve just really been grateful for this journey and the tremendous learning experience I’ve had here as a candidate. Whether it works out or not, I appreciate all the great relationships I’ve built from Gold Creek right up through Revelstoke, and I’ll never forget that.”
He says the BC Conservatives are going to be the group to turn the ship around” after “seven disastrous years of NDP leadership.”
“We’re broke, our services are in shambles, and the youth in this province are losing hope of building a future for themselves. We need to bring new, fresh ideas to the table to address the issues of affordability, housing, and healthcare. It’s time for change—common-sense change.”
The election will be held on October 19.
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