Final candidate list confirmed for Abbotsford-Mission byelection

The final list of candidates seeking to become the next MLA for Abbotsford-Mission has been confirmed ahead of the provincial byelection.

The B.C. NDP has nominated Pam Alexis, who represented Abbotsford-Mission after her 2020 election and served as B.C.’s minister of agriculture and food. Alexis is a former mayor of Mission and has served on the boards of the Mission Chamber of Commerce and the Mission Rotary Club.

The Conservative Party of B.C. is running leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay. Findlay previously represented several B.C. ridings as a federal Member of Parliament and served as chief Opposition whip under Pierre Poilievre, becoming the first woman in Canadian history to hold that role for the federal Conservatives. Her candidacy comes as nine MLAs have left the provincial Conservatives since she became leader, sitting as Independents or joining a new political party.

The B.C. Greens have nominated Stephen Fowler, a teacher at Rick Hansen Secondary School in Abbotsford who has previously run provincially and federally. He is campaigning on the party platform of affordable social housing, expanded fast and free public transit, and investment in community health centres for accessible preventative care and reduced pressure on emergency rooms.

CentreBC is running Lakhwinder Jhaj, who has previously sought election under the B.C. NDP and Liberal Party of Canada banners. In a statement, CentreBC said her experience working across party lines aligns with its approach as a broad centrist party open to people from different political backgrounds in British Columbia.

Libertarian candidate Jeff Monds is also seeking the seat. He most recently ran in the August federal byelection in North Vancouver-Capilano and previously ran as a Libertarian in Delta-Richmond East in 2011, Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge-Mission in 2008, and in multiple provincial elections for the British Columbia Libertarian Party.