The Liberal candidate for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola riding is Karley Scott.
A resident of West Kelowna and proud Métis, Scott is originally from the small town of La Ronge, Saskatchewan.
From 1999 to 2009 Scott was a public servant.
In this position, she delivered programs and services in aboriginal and disadvantaged urban communities.
During her time in the public sector under both Liberal and Conservative federal governments, Scott delivered programs that addressed issues such as economic development, homelessness and employment.
In 2009, she decided to take a leap of faith and pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer.
The mother of two young children earned her degree from the University of Calgary in 2012 before she and her husband and children moved to West Kelowna where she practices law.
Scott is now hoping to make a return to public service.
“I loved, loved, my work with the federal government,” Scott said, noting the work she did and the impact she could have on people’s lives was very rewarding.
Some of the biggest election issues are growing an economy that addresses and has a positive impact on climate change, supporting families and investing in infrastructure, Scott said.
For Scott herself, addressing the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women is a high priority.
“It’s shameful that this is going on and as an indigenous woman, it’s important to me to address,” she said.
She also thinks the riding needs to hear less from Ottawa, and Ottawa needs to hear more from the riding.
“I don’t think that Caucus should be a mutual admiration society of people who basically speak and it’s an echo chamber,” she said.
Although she has no personal connection to Merritt, Scott said she understands the types of issues for small towns having grown up in one.
