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Tracy Gray - Conservative Party - Kelowna
Bio:
Tracy Gray was elected to serve as Member of Parliament in 2019 and is the Conservative Candidate for Kelowna. Gray held multiple Official Opposition Shadow Minister portfolios.
Gray extensively outreaches to residents, businesses, not for profits, and other levels of government and is a strong voice in Ottawa for residents on issues, in particular, relating to cost of living, crime and addiction.
香蕉视频直播淭he End the Revolving Door Act香蕉视频直播� was legislation Gray brought forth in parliament.
Gray香蕉视频直播檚 professional career was 27 years in the BC wine and beer industry including founding and operating the top VQA wine store in BC for 13 years, Discover Wines, in Kelowna. Accolades included RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year and 香蕉视频直播�100 New Woman Pioneers in B.C.香蕉视频直播�
Gray was elected to Kelowna City Council in 2014, and served on many boards including BC Passenger Transportation Board, Chair of Okanagan Basin Water Board, and Prospera Credit Union.
Crime: According to Statistics Canada, Kelowna's property crime rate decreased by 2 per cent in 2024, and the crime severity index dropped by 7 per cent. Despite these declines, a recent city survey found residents are still feeling 香蕉视频直播渓ess safe.香蕉视频直播� Over the past several months, media stories also report that Kelowna business owners are fed up with repeated break-ins and vandalism. What specific measures need to be taken to address residents and business owners香蕉视频直播� concerns.
Crime in residential and business neighbourhoods is one of the top issues I hear about from residents in our community. I香蕉视频直播檝e visited businesses who香蕉视频直播檝e invested thousands of dollars in security and speak to residents who detail crimes occurring in their once-safe neighbourhoods.
Statistics Canada figures show since 2015, violent crime is up by nearly 50%, homicides are up 28%, sexual assaults are up 74%, auto theft is up 45%, and extortion is up a shocking 357%. Kelowna even ranked as the worst city for property crime in the entire pacific region a couple years ago.
These crime results are a direct result of the Liberal government香蕉视频直播檚 soft-on-crime approach which brought in legislation that amended the bail system and removed minimum sentences for many serious crimes.
A Conservative government will reverse the soft-on-crime laws and bring in new laws to protect law abiding citizens. We need to take violent repeat offenders off the street and victims need to be prioritized. Conservatives will also bring in life sentences for fentanyl producers and traffickers who prey on the most vulnerable.
Agriculture: If elected, how would you advocate for Okanagan farmers who are being impacted by both sides of the trade war? Famers are having difficulty accessing affordable inputs that are largely produced in the USA, like fertilizer, and are fearful that they will be unable to sell products south of the border at a profitable price.
Our local farmers are a backbone of our community. This is a time when more than ever we should be focusing on buying local and protecting our food security.
Continually meeting with farmers across our community, and having been a strong advocate for farmers for over 30 years, I have stood up in Ottawa on issues affecting them.
When the U.S. International Trade Commission requested investigations into Canadian agricultural products, I acted quickly to call for a strong response to protect our blueberry, strawberry, and bell pepper exports in my role as Trade Shadow Minister.
The Liberal government broke our once well-respected immigration system which is now creating delays for farmers in our community from getting their temporary workers. Pruning simply can香蕉视频直播檛 wait.
I香蕉视频直播檝e fought against and voted against a range of Liberal policies that hurt farmers. I opposed the carbon tax, the capital gains tax hike which would have deterred the younger generation from taking over the family farm, the restrictions proposed to reduce nitrogen fertilizer usage in Canada, and the escalator (automatic) excise tax increases affecting our local wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries. Conservatives have announced reversals to all these Liberal policies and laws hurting farmers.
Health: Kelowna has a significant senior population at 144,575, with 31,000 people over 65. Health Canada's "What We Heard Report from Engagement on the Safe Long-Term Care Act香蕉视频直播� found that most people would prefer to age at home with necessary supports. The Canadian Federation of Nurses, and several national labour groups, say that the Act must be mandatory and enforceable. What are your thoughts on this stance?
I speak to seniors across our community who are just getting by. I香蕉视频直播檝e spoken to seniors who香蕉视频直播檝e had to go back to work to pay the bills or help their adult children. Seniors have built our community and country, and a lifetime of hard work should lead to a secure retirement, in a safe neighbourhood.
Seniors on a fixed income have been some of the strongest hit by the cost of living crisis and this has been a focus of mine to advocate for in Ottawa.
Conservatives support working to improve the quality of long-term care and called out the Liberal government in the House of Commons regarding their lack of progress on their promised Safe Long-term Care Act.
Conservatives committed to locking in the retirement age at 65, will protect OAS, GIS & CPP and commit to protecting federal health transfers.
With a healthcare shortage, Conservatives propose a health professional 香蕉视频直播淏lue Seal香蕉视频直播� program, similar to Red Seal for skilled trades. 50,000 doctors and nurses immigrated to Canada not able to work in their profession because it takes years to be tested to see if their credentials meet Canadian licensing standards 香蕉视频直播� this needs to be expedited to sixty days.
Combatting Hate & Discrimination: In light of rising levels of hate comments and actions targeting marginalized people 香蕉视频直播� as reported by members of Kelowna's 2SLGBTQIA+ community 香蕉视频直播� how would you ensure all Kelowna residents are safe from hate speech, bullying and harassment both physically and online?
Since the Liberal government took office in 2015, hate crimes in Canada have increased by 251%. Canada is a country where people from all over the world have come to live and pursue their dreams. Acts of hatred, violence and discrimination threaten this and must not be tolerated.
Acts against vulnerable and minority communities have become far too common who have faced intimidation and threats, even by hostile foreign actors. Acts of harassment, violence or discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, or religion have increased in Canada.
Conservatives have called for real action against all forms of harassment, violence and discrimination. We want to ensure that government, law enforcement and other necessary bodies have the proper tools to combat these crimes and that the existing laws are enforced.
Of great concern is also online harassment. Conservatives put forth legislation recently that proposed measures to enable victims of criminal online harassment stronger methods to stop online harassment, to better protect minors who are online, to give parents better tools to make decisions about their children香蕉视频直播檚 online activity, and to update existing laws on the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, including those created by artificial intelligence (AI).
Representing Kelowna in Opposition: If elected and your party doesn香蕉视频直播檛 form as government, how will you best represent your riding?
Having been in the Official Opposition since 2019, I香蕉视频直播檝e learned how to stand up for issues important to our community in Ottawa. There are many ways to do this whether through debates, statements, or questions in the house of commons, or through detailed committee work.
I will continue to show up in our community, continue to do extensive outreach to gain feedback from residents and stand up in Ottawa on issues important to people in our community.
Our Community Office in Kelowna has assisted thousands of residents with federal government programs and services and we will continue to go above and beyond to serve our residents in what ways we are able.
I was able to table my first Private Member香蕉视频直播檚 Bill, C-283 the End the Revolving Door Act, which sought to provide mental health assessments and addiction treatment in federal penitentiaries to help those with addiction as well as the families and communities people go back into when released. I will continue to advocate for this.
It has been an honour to serve, and I will continue to bring the voices of our community to Ottawa and fight for issues important to people in our community.
