Surrey South candidate nomination period closed ahead of byelection

The candidate nomination period for the upcoming provincial byelection in Surrey South has closed.

Elections BC says there are a total of five candidates, each representing one of the five registered political parties.

This includes Libertarian Jason Bax, Conservative Harman Bhangu, BC NDP Pauline Greaves, Simran Sarai of the BC Green Party, and Elenore Sturko representing the BC Liberal Party.

The seat became vacant following the departure of Liberal Stephanie Cadieux, who resigned in April to become Canada’s first chief accessibility officer.

This comes a week after Premier John Horgan officially called the byelection for the electoral district.

It will take place on Sept. 10.

Related links:

• Cloverdale hospital becomes heated issue for upcoming Surrey South byelection

• Surrey South byelection called for Sept. 10

A proposed hospital in Cloverdale has become a flashpoint ahead of next month’s Surrey South byelection.

On Thursday the BC NDP warned a vote for the BC Liberals would put the facility in jeopardy.

Health Minister Adrian Dix, speaking at an event, said NDP candidate Pauline Greaves was the right candidate to make sure project gets finished.

“What we need in this riding is a candidate who will fight for the hospital [who] will make sure the services are there for people that will ensure that it happens.”

Map of new Surrey Hospital. (Photo Credit: Fraser Health)

Greaves says Kevin Falcon, the current leader of the BC Liberal party, had a chance to build a second hospital in Surrey, but didn’t get it done.

“As finance minister he declared the land designated for the hospital as surplus and sold the land and now he opposes building the project in Cloverdale,” Greaves said.

However, in a statement, Falcon is said the proposed facility was simply not enough.

“The NDP promised Surrey voters a full-service hospital, but all they’re getting is a glorified urgent care centre with just 168 beds, no ICU, and no maternity ward in Cloverdale. It’s simply not good enough for our province’s fastest-growing city,” Falcon said.

With files from Andrew Cowie and John Ackermann