Unsure who to vote for? Want to know more about your local candidates? Black Press Media has asked candidates to provide a short biography as well as answer key questions to help readers understand more about who is running from Peachland to Coldstream in this upcoming B.C. election. Be sure to check back for updates and videos. 

Dr. Michael Humer was born and raised in Vancouver. Michael attended the University of British Columbia (UBC) where he completed his medical training and surgical residency.

Michael began his surgical career in General and Thoracic Surgery in Prince George followed by Kamloops. In 2002, Michael played a lead role in the consolidation of Thoracic Surgical services throughout the province into centres of excellence through the BC Program of Thoracic Surgical Care. Since 2003, Michael has led the Kelowna Thoracic Surgical site to be a national leader in virtual patient consultation service throughout the Interior and North of BC plus the Yukon.

Michael served on the board of the Central Okanagan Hospice Association and is currently Kelowna Terry Fox Run Coordinator (2022-2024).

Michael has recently retired from surgery in order to attempt to bring the same compassion, collaborative spirit, and enthusiasm that he championed in healthcare to this and the other issues affecting the people of the Kelowna Centre riding.

 What qualifications do you think an MLA should have?

To be qualified, an MLA should:

• Know and understand their riding.

• Shown a history of commitment to public community service.

• Experience in listening to diverse voices and opinions, and providing leadership in

  bringing those forward.

What qualifications do you have to represent your riding?

 I live in my riding.

I worked in Kelowna as a surgeon and as chief of surgery, leading 65 surgeons throughout the entire Pandemic period. Through 41 years in healthcare, and 28 years in surgical practice, I have a deep understanding of the needs of the patient, the provider, and the system. Throughout my career in healthcare, I championed innovative, patient and service delivery models with a focus on optimizing access to care.

For three years, I have been the Kelowna Terry Fox run coordinator, on the board of the Central Okanagan Hospice Association for six years, with the last two years serving as its president. Mid-career, while working full time, I did a Masters of Arts in Professional Communication with a healthcare focus.

What political issues will drive voters to the polls this election?

I have spent 6 months door-knocking in this riding, listening to people, one-on-one, to understand the specific issues that affect residents of Kelowna Centre. Through several thousand conversations,I know that the priorities for people in my riding identified are:

• • Public safety and mental health and addictions
  • Affordability and cost of living, and
  • Healthcare.

What unique issues are affecting your riding?

 Affordability. Health care. Democracy.

We learned that there is a general dissatisfaction with the economic direction of Kelowna and BC over the last seven years. Home ownership is a pipe dream for many people. This, associated with high cost of living, plays a major role in the concerning exodus of young adults from Kelowna because they cannot afford to live here. A specific issue in Kelowna Centre relates to our once vibrant downtown core. Crime and public safety challenges that daily affect our population. These challenges are connected to the issues of mental health and homelessness that affect people throughout our downtown core. We have to do better.

Many of these concerns relate back to our poorly functioning health care system. We are so challenged with access to our public health care that we are responding only in a reactive fashion, rather than focusing on preventative, proactive strategies.

Historically, the opposition to NDP has been a centre-right coalition, of which Kelowna has played a significant leadership role for more than 70 years. Unique to this election, is the absence of the authentic centre-right coalition. I am running to represent the fiscally responsible, socially inclusive centre-right voter.