VICTORIA – The BC NDP’s latest group of candidates brings experience in health care, local government, education and rural development to communities across the Interior.

Steve Morissette will run in Kootenay-Monashee, Andrea Dunlop in Columbia River-Revelstoke, Roly Russell in Boundary-Similkameen, Brittny Anderson in Kootenay Central, and Harwinder Sandhu in Vernon-Lumby.

Donald Trump is threatening jobs and driving up costs. This week David Eby committed to bringing in new “Built in B.C. and Canada” procurement rules for public infrastructure projects, using the province’s buying power to support Canadian workers and create good jobs. He also announced a plan to triple B.C.’s recruitment of U.S. health-care workers.

Conservative MLAs have called for accommodation with Trump, including lifting the U.S. liquor ban as a “measure of good faith.” Lorne Doerkson stayed quiet when Conservatives stood with Trump or attacked Eby for standing up to his economic attacks. That is not leadership. We can’t afford Conservatives rolling over for Trump and abandoning B.C. workers in the middle of a trade war.

“These candidates know the communities they represent. They bring experience in health care, local government, education and rural development. I’m proud to have them on our team as we stand up for people during this trade war. Our team will help protect jobs and build an economy that is less dependent on the United States,” said David Eby, Leader of the BC NDP.

QUOTES

Steve Morissette, BC NDP candidate for Kootenay-Monashee -

“Serving in local government taught me to start with the priorities people raise and then follow through. In Kootenay-Monashee, that means protecting good local jobs, strengthening health care and supporting communities as they prepare for emergencies. I’m proud of the work we’ve done, and I’m ready to keep delivering for people across the region.”

Andrea Dunlop, BC NDP candidate for Columbia-River-Revelstoke -

“After 30 years in the classroom, I know families need good jobs, affordable homes and health care they can count on. I grew up in small-town B.C. and built my career here. I’m running with the BC NDP because we have a plan to protect local workers, strengthen health care and help people build a good life in their communities.”

Roly Russell, BC NDP candidate for Boundary-Similkameen -

“I grew up in Grand Forks and helped our community respond to the 2018 flood. I saw how much it matters when governments listen to local people and work with them. I’m running with the BC NDP to protect local jobs, lower costs and make sure rural communities have the health care and services they need.”

Brittny Anderson, BC NDP candidate for Kootenay Central -

“I’m proud to run again in Kootenay Central. I grew up in the Kootenays and returned to make my home here. People across the region need strong health care, thriving businesses, a clean environment and good jobs. I want to keep working with communities across the Kootenays to support those priorities and help build a B.C. economy that is less dependent on the United States.”

Harwinder Sandhu, BC NDP candidate for Vernon-Lumby -

“After more than two decades in health care, I know that strong health care starts with investing in the people who provide it. Since 2017 we have rebuilt and expanded the public health-care work force, creating new pathways into care and implementing nurse-to-patient ratios by investing $750 million, the first jurisdiction to do so in Canada. There is more work to do and I will keep making sure the people of Vernon-Lumby can access the care they need, when they need it.”

BIOGRAPHIES

Steve Morissette (Headshot)

Steve Morissette was elected MLA for Kootenay-Monashee in 2024 and appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development that November. He served ten years in local government, including six years as Mayor of Fruitvale, where he oversaw a new child-care facility and an accessible, affordable housing complex. Before municipal office, he was Director of Operations for School District No. 20 and a Municipal Director of the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary. He and his wife raised four sons in Fruitvale.

Andrea Dunlop (Headshot)

Born and raised in small-town B.C., Andrea Dunlop spent three decades teaching high school and running a business in the region. She’s helped generations of students become active, engaged citizens. She also served ten years on the Windermere Community Association board. She and her husband run an electrical company together.

Roly Russell (Headshot)

Roly Russell grew up in rural Grand Forks, earned a PhD in ecology and operated an organic farm. Before provincial politics, he held leadership roles in regional government and the Union of BC Municipalities and worked on local food strategies and rural development. He served as MLA from 2020 to 2024, including as Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development, and helped coordinate the 2018 Grand Forks flood response.

Brittny Anderson (Headshot)

Brittny Anderson has served as MLA for Kootenay Central and Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, as well as the Premier's Special Advisor on Youth. Raised in the Kootenays, she holds a Master of Science degree and served on Nelson City Council and the Regional District of Central Kootenay board before entering the Legislature in 2020. Her regional-government work covered environmental services, resource recovery and water systems. She’s a former business owner and has sat on several boards.

Harwinder Sandhu (Headshot)

For Harwinder Sandhu, service has never been just a job, it has been a way of life. For more than half of her life, she has cared for people from all walks of life: holding a patient’s hand in a hospital room, walking into the homes of families facing difficult circumstances, and listening to people who simply needed someone to hear them. Those experiences taught her that every person deserves to be seen, heard and supported—and that real service means showing up when people need you most. That is why she serves the people of Vernon-Lumby. Born into a farming family, Harwinder lived in the sawmill town of Mackenzie and later spent more than seven years living and working in Terrace, including at Mills Memorial Hospital. After losing her first husband to cancer, she became a young widow and single mother of two daughters, rebuilding her life while raising her family and continuing to care for others.

In Vernon, she worked as a nurse at Vernon Jubilee Hospital and as a community health-care nurse, visiting people in their homes throughout the area and seeing firsthand the gaps in the system and where families needed more support. She also worked as a patient-care coordinator. Today, she is a proud mother, her children work in healthcare, while studying at post secondary. Her journey has shaped a deep belief in resilience, compassion, care, integrity and community, and she brings those values to her work every day.