How will Kamloops MLA candidates support healthcare?

Ahead of the Oct. 24 provincial election, The Wren asked readers what they want to know from candidates running to represent the Kamloops Centre and Kamloops-North Thompson ridings as a member of the legislative assembly.

Healthcare was the most common topic, chosen by 79 per cent of respondents. Readers asked about finding a family doctor and how candidates would fix staff shortages outside of the major cities.

Here’s how candidates answered the question: How will you address the shortage of primary healthcare providers in small-urban and rural areas?

Kamloops Centre Candidates

Thaelo Proctor, Independent: I could see supporting Conservative, NDP or Green initiatives for healthcare with stipulations. Creating opportunities for people working in healthcare to advocate for change, and then be supported as quickly and effectively as possible is key. It is always disheartening to hear failures in our systems leading healthcare workers to give up; whatever is put forward needs to happen fast and with oversight from people who see the failures day in and out.

Annelise Beach, BC Green Party: I would address the shortage by adding more primary care centres in our community so every individual has a GP, NP, physio, OT and mental health support. Wrap around services for every individual. 

Peter Milobar, Conservative Party: This candidate did not respond prior to publication. This article will be updated if more information is provided. In the past, Milobar has called for accountability for ER closures, and spoke to healthcare funding as adequate. 

Mike Wisla, BC NDP: This candidate did not respond prior to publication. This article will be updated if more information is provided. 

In a public statement shared on Oct. 1, Wisla described his own experience growing up in Cache Creek and past seven years working in healthcare.

“I’ve lived through the cuts to education under previous governments, and I saw firsthand what happens when we don’t invest in our public services. In healthcare, we need to continue to recruit and retain more workers, make hospitals safer, and give people struggling with homelessness and addiction access to the care they need. I’m running to protect our public services and keep investing in the people who make them work.”

Rocky McAfee: This candidate did not respond prior to publication. This article will be updated if more information is provided. In an interview with CFJC Today, McAfee identified health care as a priority, but did not specify how he would focus on the issue. OneBC’s platform seeks to provide a private healthcare option beside “fully-funded public health care.” 

Kamloops North-Thompson Candidates

Kory Clark, BC NDP: 

1. Triple our US healthcare professional recruitment strategy, which has already brought 800 healthcare professionals to B.C. since launching in March 2025; a plan the BC Conservatives promised to cancel. 
2. Building 20 new primary care clinics across the province.
3. After opening the new SFU medical school, we will also add 1,000 training seats for nurses, nurse practitioners, allied health workers, and care aides, expanding loan forgiveness for healthcare workers willing to work in remote/rural areas.

Editor’s Note: The Wren was not able to verify the claim that the Conservative Party of BC has promised to cancel the NDP’s US health-care professional recruitment program. The Conservative platform seeks to invest $50 million into a fund to train more doctors locally, “bring home Canadians who studied medicine abroad and speed up international credential recognition.” Conservative BC members, such as MLA Anna Kindy have been critical of the program, calling it a “band-aid solution.” As cited in numerous NDP statements, Conservative MLA Heather Maahs called a specific free-coffee recruitment tactic “an irresponsible, reckless, idiotic, waste of tax payers money,” over X, formerly known as Twitter, but did not call for the cancellation of the recruitment campaign. Other Conservative MLAs have criticized the cost of the advertising associated with the recruitment campaign.

Ward Stamer, Conservative Party: This candidate did not respond prior to publication. This article will be updated if more information is provided. In an interview with The Wren’s sibling publication, Sun Peaks Independent News in 2024, Stamer said BC Conservatives are committed to spending more on healthcare, and will implement a patient-first funding model. The Conservative platform seeks to invest $50 million into a fund to train more doctors locally, “bring home Canadians who studied medicine abroad and speed up international credential recognition.”

By “reducing red tape and bureaucracy,” BC Conservatives plan to reduce wait times and administrative burdens on doctors and nurses.

“We will also expand programs to incentivize doctors and nurses to work in high demand communities, especially in rural and remote areas,” he said.

In February, Stamer affirmed to Castanet Kamloops, the Conservative Party would like to see cuts made to administrative jobs in healthcare.

Deborah Friesen, OneBC: This candidate did not respond prior to publication. This article will be updated if more information is provided. OneBC’s platform seeks to provide a private healthcare option beside “fully-funded public health care.”

When and where to vote

Provincial general voting day is Saturday, Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Advance voting runs Oct. 16 to 21, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Find your voting place at wheretovote.elections.bc.ca. You can also vote by mail. Request a package from Elections BC by Oct. 18. Completed ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Oct. 24.

The candidates in Kamloops Centre are Annelise Beach (BC Green Party), Rocky McAfee (OneBC), Peter Milobar (Conservative Party, incumbent), Thaelo Proctor (Independent) and Mike Wisla (BC NDP).

The candidates in Kamloops-North Thompson are Kory Clark (BC NDP), Deborah Friesen (OneBC) and Ward Stamer (Conservative Party, incumbent).