In just over six weeks, B.C. voters will go to the polls to elect the next provincial government.
Until last week, it appeared that the NDP would again win the most seats, due to a split on the centre-right between the BC Conservatives and BC United. That all changed Wednesday, when Kevin Falcon, BC United leader, announced that the party was suspending its campaign and the 56 nominated candidates were on their own.
Falcon endorsed the BC Conservatives and their party leader, John Rustad, in the hope that enough voters who had backed both parties would come together to beat the NDP, in power for seven years. Two years ago, Falcon (a former Surrey-Cloverdale MLA) kicked then-BC Liberal MLA Rustad out of his caucus for retweeting a post about climate change from Patrick Moore, a onetime Greenpeace member.
It’s all enough to make voters, most of whom pay little attention to the arcane details of politics unless an election is imminent, wonder what is up, what is down and what is about to happen.
Surrey and Delta play a very key role in the coming election, with 12 MLAs to be elected out of the 93 who will sit in the next version of the B.C. legislature. Neither the NDP nor the BC Conservatives had (as of Aug. 30) nominated candidates for all 12 ridings.
According to party websites, nine of the 12 ridings had NDP candidates, while 11 of the 12 had BC Conservative candidates. (However, Jason McCormick, the NDP candidate for Delta South, was not listed on the NDP website, even though his candidacy was announced on Aug. 8.)
Conspicuously without a political home is incumbent BC United MLA Trevor Halford, who represents Surrey-White Rock. Delta South MLA Ian Paton is also politically homeless, but there was no BC Conservative candidate in that riding as of Aug. 30. Some BC United candidates may end up as BC Conservative candidates, but there are no Surrey seats available at present.
Six BC United candidates had been announced in Surrey and Delta, including Halford, Paton and White Rock Coun. Ernie Klassen, who was going to run in Surrey South.
There is no shortage of issues. Housing cost and availability, classroom shortages, health-care challenges, homelessness, crime, addiction and provincial decriminalization issues are all on the minds of many voters.
In addition, the hugely expensive Surrey police transition that was forced on taxpayers by the province will be an issue. Another local issue that will resonate is the delay in opening the Surrey SkyTrain extension and the 50 per cent rise in costs. Lengthy delays in expansion of Surrey Memorial Hospital and construction of the new Cloverdale hospital will also be considered by many.
It will not be easy being an incumbent government MLA. Two of the best-known Surrey MLAs are bowing out — Surrey-Whalley MLA Bruce Ralston and Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains. Both have been MLAs for almost 20 years and have been in cabinet for seven years.
Education Minister Rachna Singh and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon are standing up for the government’s record, though — Singh in Surrey City Centre, which takes in part of her former Surrey-Green Timbers riding, and Kahlon in Delta North.
The two best-known BC Conservative candidates are current Surrey South MLA Elenore Sturko who, in a foresighted move, left BC United several months ago to join the BC Conservatives. She is running in Surrey-Cloverdale. Former Surrey mayor Linda Hepner is the BC Conservative candidate in Surrey-Serpentine River, the additional Surrey riding added for this year’s election.
Voting day is on a Saturday — Oct. 19.
Frank Bucholtz writes twice a month on political issues for Black Press Media.
