Premier David Eby has called byelections for June 24 to fill two MLA seats after the resignations of former premier John Horgan and former cabinet minister Melanie Mark.
Nominations close on June 3. Eby made the announcement just before leaving for Asia on a trade mission which will see stops in Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Vietnam.
Langford-Juan de Fuca became vacant when Horgan, who stepped down as premier in November 2022, officially resigned his MLA seat in late March. He was first elected in the riding in 2005.
Mark, first First Nations woman to serve in the B.C. legislature and as a cabinet minister, stepped down in February but not before giving a fiery speech in the House saying the legislature at times “felt like a torture chamber.” She represented Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, which includes part of the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood.
Nominated so far in Langford-Juan de Fuca are BC Green Camille Currie, the founder of BC Health Care Matters; B.C. Conservative Mike Harris, a Realtor; BC United’s Elena Lawson, a parent advocating for children with autism; and New Democrat Ravi Parmar, chair of the Sooke School District.
Running so far in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant are Wendy Hayko, an emergency management expert, for the Greens; businessman Jackie Lee for BC United; B.C. Conservative Karin Litzcke, a long-time education advocate; and Indigenous leader Joan Phillip for the NDP.
Advance voting is set for June 16 to 21.
For information about voting and registering to vote, call Elections BC toll-free at 1 800 661-8683, or go to elections.bc.ca
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