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As a mortgage broker, Spring Hawes knows the percentages so she realizes she's battling against the odds in Kelowna West, but she believes she'll do better than people might expect.
"People are feeling good about what's happening with the provincial government," she said.
"I really believe in some of the work that the NDP in BC has been doing," said Hawes, who met with us on the waterfront in Gellatly Bay.
"It's so exciting to see improvements being made in health care and seniors care." She points to the newly opened Urgent and Primary Care Centre in West Kelowna.
"It was never able to be accomplished with the previous government," Hawes added, "and we've had an NDP government for three years and we've got that UPCC that's open now."
The impact that's had on people in West Kelowna can't be overstated she said. "I know that's a really big thing for a lot of people. They don't have to drive across the bridge and go into KGH anymore to the emergency room and wait. They can access healthcare right in their community."
People in the business community tend to instinctively lean to the right of the political spectrum, but Hawes suggests it's time to re-think that.
"I am strongly in support of small business," she explained. "I see a lot of things the NDP are doing are supportive. There's $10/day childcare that we're growing, there are employee rebates and a lot of work we've been doing to try to support small business."
Hawes admits there are negative rumblings about the speculation tax.
"I'm hearing that it's a concern for real estate value," she added.
"It's a legitimate concern, that I think it's important that we can talk to the province about those things and see if there is any flexibility there."
Polls have been suggesting the NDP is well-positioned to win the election and Hawes is hoping there is some NDP representation in the Okanagan as well.
"We're giving it our best shot," she said with a smile.
Election Day is October 24.
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