B.C. Premier David Eby calls two byelections for June 24
VICTORIA - British Columbia Premier David Eby called byelections Saturday for two ridings left vacant after the resignations of the previous New Democrat premier and a former cabinet minister.
Voters in the Greater Victoria riding of Langford-Juan de Fuca and in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant will cast their ballots on June 24.
The premier said he was excited to announce the voting in two vibrant ridings where residents are in urgent need of representation.
The districts encompass very different communities, with Vancouver-Mount Pleasant including parts of the city's Chinatown and Downtown Eastside neighbourhoods, which are facing “big challenges,” Eby said.
He said Langford-Juan de Fuca is a fast-growing riding, and both districts are in need of strong representation heading into the fall legislative session.
Eby made the remarks at a news conference at the Vancouver International Airport before departing on a trade mission to several countries in Asia.
The premier and Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey are set to visit Japan, Korea, and Singapore in support of B.C.'s new trade diversification strategy.
Eby said he will also speak with officials in those countries about their housing strategies and how they're tackling challenges similar to those B.C. is facing.
The Langford riding had been held by former premier John Horgan from 2005 until his retirement from politics earlier this year, while Melanie Mark, a former advanced education and tourism minister, was first elected in 2016.
Mark was the first First Nations woman elected to the B.C. legislature before she also resigned her seat in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant earlier this year.
The NDP, BC United and Greens have nominated candidates to run in each riding.
School board trustee Ravi Parmar is set to run for the New Democrats in the Langford riding, while parental autism advocate Elena Lawson will carry the BC United banner and health advocate Camille Currie will contend for the Greens.
In Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, Indigenous leader Joan Phillip will run for the NDP, local businessman Jackie Lee for BC United, and emergency management expert Wendy Hayko for the Greens.
Advance voting is set to run from June 16 to 21, with June 24 as the final day voters may cast their ballots.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca