Conservative MP Dan Albas will most likely run in a federal riding that does not have Penticton in it.

The former Penticton council member says on his blog: “the largest change is that Penticton will be removed from this riding and Keremeos and Princeton along with a portion of Kelowna will be added. Although some communities will be supportive of these changes, from what I heard when I attended the public input session and from speaking with various local government leaders and citizens, I am expecting that the majority will be opposed.”

“Okanagan-Coquihalla is a large and very diverse riding and I have spent the past few years becoming familiar with many important community issues as well as building relationships with community leaders, the vast majority of whom will remain within the new riding of Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola. Given the importance of knowing local challenges and the need to build strong community relationships to help resolve them, representing a familiar riding and working with community leaders you know is the way an MP can be most effective.

In my case that would be Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola. Having said that, it is also important to recognize that these new boundaries do not come into effect until the next Federal election.”

Penticton is now listed in a Kootenay based riding along with Osoyoos and Oliver. The NDP MP is Alex Atamanenko.