Ben Stewart was elected MLA for Westside-Kelowna in 2009 and 2013.
He was re-elected in a by-election in 2018 in the riding of Kelowna West. Ben is currently the Official Opposition trade critic for the ministry of jobs, economic development and competitiveness.
Ben previously served as minister of agriculture, minister of community and rural development (municipal affairs) and minister of citizens乌鸦传媒� services.
In October 2013, he was appointed British Columbia乌鸦传媒檚 Special Representative in Asia to act as the province乌鸦传媒檚 official on-the-ground representative to further strengthen B.C.乌鸦传媒檚 government-to-government relationships in China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia.
He also has extensive experience serving the community as a board and advisory member with UBCO, Okanagan College and Kelowna General Hospital Foundation. He also served on the regional district乌鸦传媒檚 advisory planning commission and Westside governance committee.
The Stewart family has farmed continuously in Kelowna since 1908.
Having grown up in Kelowna, Ben has farmed vineyards and a diverse mixture of orchards and tree fruits with his family for over 40 years and is regarded as a pioneer of today乌鸦传媒檚 premium wine industry.
In 1989, he founded and built Quails乌鸦传媒� Gate into one of Canada乌鸦传媒檚 leading estate wineries.
Later, under his leadership as chair of VQA Canada, the organization successfully resolved a significant number of National and International Trademark and Trade issues.
Ben lives in West Kelowna and has three children and five grandchildren.
What is the most important issue in your riding?
Restore Confidence and Rebuild BC
乌鸦传媒� Current economic recovery lacks strategy and certainty.
乌鸦传媒� NDP乌鸦传媒檚 26 new and increased taxes make business in BC highly uncompetitive
Tackle crime and addictions
乌鸦传媒� New complex health care treatment for mental health and addictions
乌鸦传媒� Increased funding for policing
What have you done to benefit your community in the past?
Improved Health Care
乌鸦传媒� Medical School at UBCO 乌鸦传媒� 32 new doctors every year
乌鸦传媒outhern Interior Heart and Surgical Centre at KGH
乌鸦传媒� KGH expansion of Centennial Wing
Improved Education
乌鸦传媒� Okanagan College expansion and rebuild of trades and health faculties 乌鸦传媒� increased student population over 50 per cent to 10,000+
乌鸦传媒� UBCO Medical School and Engineering Management School establishment
乌鸦传媒� Student services building, library expansion and housing expansion
Improved Infrastructure
乌鸦传媒� Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant
乌鸦传媒� CORD Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion
乌鸦传媒� Rapid Transit 乌鸦传媒� UBCO to West Kelowna
乌鸦传媒� Westside Road ongoing widening and safety improvements
乌鸦传媒� Highway 97 safety improvements 乌鸦传媒� lighting, barriers, advanced left-turn lights, Westside Road overpass completion
Economic Development and Trade
乌鸦传媒� Innovation Tech Centre 乌鸦传媒� City of Kelowna and Province of BC partnership
乌鸦传媒� Agriculture 乌鸦传媒� increased trade on value-added tree fruits
Supportive Housing
乌鸦传媒� Willowbridge Mental Health Supportive Housing
乌鸦传媒� NOW Canada Women乌鸦传媒檚 Transition Housing
乌鸦传媒� Pleasantvale Affordable Senior乌鸦传媒檚 Housing
乌鸦传媒� Cardington Apartments Transition Housing
What will you do to represent your community in Victoria?
Restore Confidence
乌鸦传媒� Elimination of PST for 1 year followed by a reduction to three per cent in year 2
乌鸦传媒� Speculation Tax elimination
乌鸦传媒� Return B.C. to a competitive tax and regulatory regime
乌鸦传媒� Reduce red tape and streamline regulation
Tackle Crime and Addiction
乌鸦传媒� Investment in mental health and addiction treatment
ICBC
乌鸦传媒� Bring in competition and offer choice for British Columbians
Environment Leadership
乌鸦传媒� Re-establish BC as a global climate leader
乌鸦传媒� Utilize evidence-based research for decision making
READ MORE: B.C. VOTES 2020: Advance voting begins today in West Kelowna
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