2025 federal election notebook in Kamloops, Okanagan

While you may have been been focused on the national coverage of the federal election, iNFOnews.ca has some notes on what was happening in Kamloops and the Okanagan. There was a mistake with some voter information cards in Kamloops showing the wrong hours for voting stations. Cards, like the ones for some voters assigned to cast their ballot at Marion Schilling Elementary School, said the station was open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. when the hours were actually 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. “A printer's error led to those incorrect polling times on Voter Information Cards. We reached out through a number of channels — paid and unpaid media — to alert electors about the error, in case new (Voter Information Cards) did not reach those electors in time, due to the long weekend among other factors," Elections Canada spokesperson James Hale told iNFOnews.ca in an email. "Our message is always: Check your specific details on elections.ca by inputting your postal code. The information there is always the most reliable." While checking information on the Elections Canada website is usually a good idea, there were some technical difficulties and people couldn't access polling station information. “It's important to note that last evening's website issues were not related to cyberattacks. It was a technical failure, and the exact cause is still under investigation. The failure only affected some users, it seems. There will be more to come on that, I'm sure,” Hale said. Former Penticton city councillor turned Conservative candidate Helena Konanz won in the Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay https://infotel.ca/newsitem/conservative-helena-konanz-wins-in-similkameen-south-okanagan-west-kootenay/it109000 with 44 per cent of the vote. Konanz also ran for the Conservatives in the past two federal elections in the region that has been an NDP stronghold since 2015 under now retired MP Richard Cannings. Her victory leaves Penticton in need of another byelction https://infotel.ca/newsitem/change-a-constant-on-penticton-council-as-councillor-leaves-to-run-for-conservatives/it108745  after former councillor Amelia Boultbee won in the riding Penticton-Summerland for the BC Conservatives this past fall. Boultbee was replaced by Jason Reynen in a byelection earlier this month. https://infotel.ca/newsitem/penticton-business-owner-wins-penticton-byelection-in-landslide/it108739 Councillor James Miller is on paid leave pending his trial for sex crime charges that stem from his time as a basketball coach in Ontario. The NDP had a brutal showing across the country winning just seven seats and six per cent of the vote. In the riding of Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay, NDP candidate Linda Sankey did relatively well getting 16 per cent of the vote to Liberal Gloria Morgan’s 37 per cent. Conservatives won in Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola https://infotel.ca/newsitem/conservative-caputo-wins-in-kamloops-thompson-nicola/it108993 , Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies, https://infotel.ca/newsitem/conservative-mel-arnold-returns-to-ottawa-for-kamloops-shuswap-central-rockies/it108998 Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee https://infotel.ca/newsitem/conservative-scott-anderson-wins-vernon-lake-country-monashee/it108996 and Okanagan Lake West-South Kelowna https://infotel.ca/newsitem/conservative-dan-albas-wins-okanagan-lake-west-south-kelowna/it108992 . Kelowna is the only riding in Kamloops and the Okanagan that is Liberal red with Stephen Fuhr's win over Conservative Tracy Gray https://infotel.ca/newsitem/its-official-liberal-stephen-fuhr-is-kelownas-next-mp/it109018 . More federal election coverage here: With no leader or party status, NDP could hold balance of power with Liberal minority https://infotel.ca/newsitem/fedelxn-ndp/cp744938764 Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre loses his long-held seat in Ottawa https://infotel.ca/newsitem/fedelxn-poilievre-riding/cp510852341 Liberals projected to finish just short of a majority after very close election race https://infotel.ca/newsitem/fedelxn-main/cp343576825 Ontario, Prairies blocked Liberals from an election-night majority blowout https://infotel.ca/newsitem/fedelxn-liberals/cp2014440437 Elections Canada says more than 19.5M voters cast a ballot in federal election https://infotel.ca/newsitem/fedelxn-voter-turnout/cp1499798153 'Reset button': Premier Moe says he'll work with Carney and push for economic change https://infotel.ca/newsitem/fedelxn-sask/cp1902768069 Bloc leader criticized by Parti Québécois as he promises to work with other parties https://infotel.ca/newsitem/bloc-quebec/cp1613540152 Democrat lawmakers celebrate Carney's Liberal win as most Republicans remain silent https://infotel.ca/newsitem/us-cda-election-reaction/cp698875116 Alberta Premier Smith congratulates Carney, warns him against future 'hostile acts' https://infotel.ca/newsitem/fedelxn-alta/cp1895767647 To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas mailto:jtomas@infonews.ca  or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . 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