BC Conservatives snub former MP for another candidate in Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream

Former city councillor and MP Tracy Gray made a big deal about putting her name up for the BC Conservative candidacy in the riding of Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream, but the party went another direction.

The BC Conservatives have chosen candidate Pavneet Singh in the riding instead of Gray.

“I am proud to stand with the Conservative Party of BC and look forward to working hard, listening to residents, and earning the opportunity to represent our community,” Singh said in a statement on social media.

“This riding has been home to me for more than 25 years. I have built my businesses here, raised my family here, and have had the privilege of serving and building relationships with people throughout our community.”

The BC Conservatives announced Singh’s candidacy a few hours after Gray posted her bid for nomination, including a website asking voters to request she get it.

Gray is well-known in the area since she served as a Kelowna city councillor from 2014 until 2018, then as a Member of Parliament from 2019 until 2025.

Gray has not posted a response to losing the nomination yet and the BC Conservatives haven’t published any information about why Gray wasn’t selected.

Gray had posted a photo congratulating now-resigned BC Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay on her leadership win a few months ago.

Singh is a local entrepreneur who ran for BC United, formerly the BC Liberals, in 2024. But when BC United folded, Singh dropped out so as to not split the vote on the right.

The candidate who benefitted from Singh’s decision to step aside was Tara Armstrong who has been a controversial figure in office.

Armstrong has not officially declared whether she has decided to run again or not.

Her X.com bio now reads “Former MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream” but she has not responded to requests for comment.