BURST
In less than a month, Abbotsford-Mission will have a new MLA — and B.C. Conservative Party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay will learn if she will enter the legislature in Victoria as the leader of the official Opposition.
Premier David Eby called the byelection for Abbotsford-Mission after Reann Gasper resigned as the riding’s MLA, stepping aside for Findlay to run in her stead. Findlay is currently without a riding.
The nomination period for candidates closed Sunday afternoon, with five candidates on the ballot: Pam Alexis (NDP), Kerry-Lynne Findlay (Conservative Party), Stephen Fowler (BC Green Party), Lakhwinder Jhaj (CentreBC) and Jeff Monds (Libertarian).
Alexis represented the riding until losing to Gasper in 2024. Gasper was named Findlay’s chief of staff last week after her previous chief of staff, Chris Delaney, resigned. Following Delaney’s resignation, audio of him making derogatory comments about Indigenous people was released online.
Postmedia News confirmed with an individual who was in the room that the comments are authentic and that they were made by Delaney before a meeting.
Findlay is presiding over a Conservative Party that has seen nine MLAs leave the party since she was elected in May, with five of those — Peter Milobar, Ian Paton, Rosalyn Bird, Bruce Banman and Áʼa꞉líya Warbus — announcing they have formed a new provincial political party on Friday.
Any Canadian citizens who are 18 or older as of Sept. 26, live in the Abbotsford-Mission electoral district are a resident of B.C. for at least six months are allowed to vote in the byelection.
Advance voting opens on Friday, Sept. 18 and runs until Sept. 23. The location of voting stations can be found at wheretovote.elections.bc.ca/abm.
Saturday, Sept. 26 is the final day of voting, with stations open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Eligible voters can also vote at the Abbotsford-Mission district electoral office (E 100-7871 Stave Lake St.) until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26 or request a vote by mail package at elections.bc.ca/votebymail until Sept. 20.
Preliminary results will be announced as soon as possible after the close of voting at 8 p.m. on Sept. 26, and the final results made official on Oct. 1.