NDP Candidate for Fraser Nicola Aaron Sumexheltza 2020 BC Election

Aaron Sumexheltza is the NDP candidate for the 2020 election in the Fraser Nicola riding in BC. This is Aarons second attempt at running for the NDP. In 2017 Aaron went up against another NDP candidate to see who be the representative in Fraser-Nicola, Aaron lost that chance to Harry Lali, who ultimately lost (only by 500 votes) to Jackie Tegart.

A little bit of background on Aaron and some of the campaign promises is as follows: Aaron is a lawyer, councilor, and former Chief of the Lower Nicola Indian Band, Aaron is ready to bring his experience to John Horgan’s BC NDP Team. A married father with an infant son, Aaron believes strongly in the NDP's plan to expand $10 per day child care and to invest in schools and healthcare. Aaron has dedicated his career to social justice and has created jobs and generated economic opportunity for his community as chair of the Lower Nicola Indian Band Development Corporation. (That previous paragraph was taken from Aaron's NDP profile page).

The interview started off with a pretty big bang, just under two minutes in Aaron Announced that the NDP party had a new campaign promise, to re-open the Ashcroft Hospitals Emergency Room 24 hours a day 7 days a week. This instantly threw Gareth Smart the HUB Online Networks civic journalist. The Ashcroft ER has been a point of contention especially over the past several years, having spawned two volunteer groups (Wellness and Health Action Coalition and the Health and Wellness Coalition, (yes those are different groups)). Currently the Ashcroft "health site" is open for lab work during the week from 8:30am to 2pm, and the emergency room is open from 6pm Friday nights until Monday mornings at 8am. Other than a separate doctors office in the village there is currently no emergency care in Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Clinton or Spences Bridge and the Bonaparte, Ashcroft and Skeetchasen Indian Bands.

Some of the challenges that Aaron has had while campaigning is the inability to go knocking in doors as he normally would. However one interesting thing that happened was when he walking with his wife and child, they were pushing a stroller with his campaign signs on the stroller and people would approach him that way and ask him questions.

When asked about how he would stay connected to the riding. He said that he would be around as much as possible, it is important to him be involved, not just once a year or once at a special event, but as often as he can.

When asked about a possible cabinet position that he would be interested in if he were elected, Aaron said that he is just focused on getting elected first, and that a cabinet position is not even on his mind this time.

Aaron was asked that if he had all of the money and all of the votes that he could need, what would he like to do in the riding. Aaron brought it back to the putting in the 24/7 Ashcroft Emergency Room.

When given the time to make a last pitch to the voters in this interview Aaron stated that a vote for him and John Horgan is a vote for a 24/7 Emergency Room in Ashcroft.