Parliament Hill sources with contacts here in the Kootenays say there’s going to be a federal election this spring.

Speaking on KCR’s Kootenay Morning Monday from his home in Kaslo, Green Party Electoral District Association director Andy Shadrack said he spoke to a member of the Green Party caucus in Ottawa in early December who has been told by Liberal MPs they’ve been directed to prepare for an election in April.

“It doesn’t get much clearer than that,” Shadrack said.

That’s why the Greens have put out a call for a candidate for the Kootenay-Columbia riding. The new candidate will take over from Abra Brynne, who led the Greens to within six votes of overtaking the Liberals in Kootenay Columbia. And for the first time, the Greens came second in Nelson, ahead of the Conservatives.

Shadrack said he’s aware of a few people interested in the position, but adds that with such a short time to campaign, the candidate will have to be well-known and have a track record. The former RDCK rep says the Greens have to expand their base by focusing on issues beyond traditional environmental concerns, inclined health care, public housing jobs and how the economy will grow after national COVID vaccinations are completed.

Listen to the full interview here: