B.C. ELECTION 2017: Eye on the Kelowna-Lake Country race

KELOWNA – For the past sixteen years, Kelowna-Lake Country has been a sweep for the ruling Liberal Party. Since winning against the Social Credit Party in 1991, the B.C. Liberals have won the riding in every provincial election. 

The closest another party has come to the Liberals was in 2005, when NDP candidate John Pugley garnered 30.4 per cent of the vote. 

B.C. Liberal incumbent Norm Letnick has won the past two elections and is running for his third consecutive term this year. Challenging Letnick this year are NDP Erik Olesen and B.C. Green Party candidate Dr. Alison Shaw.

• ERIK OLESEN: NDP's Erik Olesen is hoping a fresh face pays off 
• DR. ALISON SHAW: How Alison Shaw found the Green Party 
• NORM LETNICK: Kelowna-Lake Country Liberal incumbent Norm Letnick hopes his door knocking pays off

In the 2013 provincial election, voter turnout was extrememly poor, with only 47.7 per cent of eligible voters. As of April 11, 2017, 46,477 residents have registered to vote. 

The riding is comprised of the District of Lake Country and the northern half of Kelowna – east of Glenmore Drive.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jenna Hickman or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.