Seven candidates are now vying for the South Surrey-White Rock seat left vacant by the resignation of former Conservative MP Dianne Watts.
In addition to candidates already announced for the Dec. 11 byelection ballot – Kerry-Lynne Findlay (Conservative), Gordon Hogg (Liberal) and Michael Huenefeld (Progressive Canadian) – Elections Canada lists Jonathan Silveira as the confirmed NDP candidate, Larry Colero for the Green Party, Donald Wilson for the Libertarian Party and Rod Taylor for the Christian Heritage Party.
Nominations closed Monday; Elections Canada is to release the list of confirmed candidates Wednesday.
Much ado has been made by both the Liberals and Conservatives to promote their candidate – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer were both in town last Wednesday.
No news releases had been received by Peace Arch News with respect to Silveira, Colero, Wilson or Taylor’s nominations as of noon Monday.
Colero – who ran for the South Surrey-White Rock seat in the October 2015 election – advised Peace Arch News Sunday evening that he was on the Elections Canada candidate list. The semi-retired business ethics consultant and longtime self-professed social justice and peace advocate explained that there had been “some sort of delay” with his party’s announcement, however, he said a news release was expected to be issued by Tuesday.
“Some fierce competition and a tough one to call, so it will be interesting this time around, especially since there’s no need for anyone to vote strategically to change government,” Colero said by email.
NDP officials told PAN a week ago that their candidate was to be selected Nov. 14. Contacted Friday, officials said a a public announcement had yet to be made.
Libertarian Party of Canada Leader Tim Moen tweeted to local media Saturday morning that he was in town “promoting the 1 candidate you currently have on the ballot.”
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Progressive Canadian officials issued a news release about Huenefeld last Wednesday, describing him as a “longtime political activist and organizer with the Progressive Conservative Party.”
Huenefeld has a background in political science, is fluent in French and Spanish, and is currently a business instructor at Columbia College and SFU, the release states. His campaign focus, it adds, will include transportation, infrastructure modernization and environmental concerns.
A news release issued just before 1 p.m. Monday regarding Wilson’s selection describes the candidate as a family lawyer practising in New Westminster, and new president of the BC Libertarian Party.
“Don believes everyday Canadians should keep more control of their lives and their tax-dollars,” the release states.
He “seeks to slow Ottawa from imposing its values or economic schemes on local residents… such matters are better left in the hands of the families and communities of South Surrey-White Rock.”
Watts, a former Surrey mayor, was elected MP in the 2015 election. The byelection was triggered by her decision in September to forsake federal politics for a run at leadership of the BC Liberals.
