B.C. votes: Meet the candidates for Surrey-Serpentine River

With voting day approaching, five candidates are vying for the MLA seat in Surrey-Serpentine River: Judy Higginbotham (CentreBC), Todd Holowchak (OneBC), Sikander Kang (BC NDP), Errol Povah (Freedom Party of BC) and Jessy Sahota (Conservative Party). They are among 47 Surrey candidates whose names will appear on ballots in the upcoming provincial election.

Surrey Now-Leader sent local candidates a questionnaire to introduce themselves to voters. Every candidate received the same questions, word limits and deadlines. The responses below are presented in the order received, with questions in bold and answers in the candidates’ own words.

Final voting day is Oct. 24. Advance voting is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 16 to 21. More information is at https://elections.bc.ca/2026-provincial-election/candidate-list/.

Errol Povah, Freedom Party of BC

**One-sentence bio (maximum 25 words):** Royal Canadian Navy veteran, Victim Services volunteer, 30-year BC Ferries employee and lifelong activist on social issues such as opposition to SOGI.

**Top three priorities (maximum 10 words each):** 1. End the harmful SOGI 123 agenda targeting children. 2. Eliminate taxes charged in the name of what he calls the “climate change hoax.” 3. Investigate what he describes as forced, dangerous vaccinations during COVID.

**What he would achieve in his first 100 days if elected (maximum 100 words):** Povah said he would end the SOGI 123 agenda targeting children and lobby to repeal the “Conversion Therapy Act,” which he identifies as Bill C-4. He claimed the legislation allows a 12-year-old to decide to have sex-transition surgery without parental consent. He also said he would eliminate taxes imposed in the name of what he calls the climate change hoax, arguing they place an undue burden on families without benefit.

Povah said people were forced to receive dangerous COVID vaccinations, calling this contrary to basic human dignity and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He claimed many people have died since taking the vaccine and said he would work to bring those responsible to justice.

**Why voters should elect him (maximum 50 words):** He said he has a strong sense of morals, ethics, justice and public service. He believes governments have declared war on the public, tragically against the most vulnerable, including children and older adults. He said he would strive to defend British Columbians from harmful government policies.

**How voters can learn more:** Phone: 778 899-4832; email: errolp@hotmail.com; website: https://freedompartybc.ca/; Facebook: errol.peters.5.

Todd Holowchak, OneBC

**One-sentence bio (maximum 25 words):** Husband, father and 16-year Surrey-Serpentine River resident, he is a business leader who balances budgets and says the private sector, not government, creates jobs.

**Top three priorities (maximum 10 words each):** 1. Cut income taxes by 25 per cent and balance the budget within four years. 2. One law for everyone: equal rights and protected private property. 3. Basics first in schools, parental rights, and classrooms instead of portables.

**What he would achieve in his first 100 days if elected (maximum 100 words):** Holowchak said government should create conditions for success rather than punish it with confiscatory taxes. He would push for OneBC’s 25 per cent cut to every income-tax bracket, lowering the PST to 5 per cent and balancing the budget within four years. He would fight for one law for every British Columbian, including repealing DRIPA, so no one has special rights, everyone is equal under the law and private property is protected. He would also press to end safe supply, turn consumption sites into recovery centres, pass a Parental Bill of Rights and move Surrey students from portables into classrooms.

**Why voters should elect him (maximum 50 words):** He said he has lived in Surrey-Serpentine River for 16 years and says what he means. After he raised concerns about his own party’s leadership vote and asked for an independent review, he said he was forced out. He would bring the same integrity and decades of business experience balancing budgets to Victoria.

**How voters can learn more:** Phone: 778-900-0168; email: todd.holowchak@1bc.ca; website: 1bc.ca; Facebook: facebook.com/todd.holowchak; X: @HolowchakT64886; LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/toddnholowchak.

Sikander Kang, BC NDP

**One-sentence bio (maximum 25 words):** Healthcare professional, small-business owner and Surrey-Serpentine River candidate who manages five physiotherapy clinics in the Lower Mainland.

**Top three priorities (maximum 10 words each):** 1. Lower fuel costs and take on grocery giants. 2. Protect ICBC savings and extend the rate freeze. 3. Strengthen health care, schools and local services for Surrey’s growing families.

**What he would achieve in his first 100 days if elected (maximum 100 words):** Kang said he would advance his party’s affordability plan: suspend 10 cents per litre of provincial fuel tax, stop gas companies from price gouging, cap grocery giants’ profit margins on essentials, and extend ICBC’s rate freeze for three years. As a healthcare professional and small-business owner, he would also support efforts to recruit more health workers, protect services families rely on and strengthen the local economy in Surrey-Serpentine River.

**Why voters should elect him (maximum 50 words):** He said Surrey-Serpentine River needs a practical local voice who understands families, health care and small business. He has built and managed clinics in the Lower Mainland, raised his family there and worked at the community level. He said he would help Surrey move forward with better health care, stronger services and lower costs.

**How voters can learn more:** Campaign office: 672.251.0251, 15551 Fraser Highway; website: https://sikanderkang.bcndp.ca/; email: sikander.kang@bcndp.ca; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sikandersingh.kang.58; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sikander.kang1/.

Judy Higginbotham, CentreBC

**One-sentence bio (maximum 25 words):** She taught elementary and junior high school, worked as a writer, editor and broadcaster with Cable Ten, and served as a Surrey councillor for 25 years. She is a wife, mother and grandmother and has lived in Surrey since 1976.

**Top three priorities (maximum 10 words each):** 1. Public safety: more police and a four-pillar approach of prevention, enforcement, rehabilitation and harm reduction. 2. Health care: bring in more nurse practitioners and doctors and reduce wait times. 3. Build the community: housing for families, eliminate portables, and support community sports, arts and culture equally.

**What she would achieve in her first 100 days if elected (maximum 100 words):** Higginbotham said she would ensure B.C. and the legislature recognize the value of Surrey-Serpentine River: its heritage and sports tourism, agricultural capabilities, welcoming atmosphere and community activities that help families make a home.

**Why voters should elect her (maximum 50 words):** She said the legislature needs hardworking, experienced, action-oriented and knowledgeable members to make important issues a priority and act on them. She described herself as action-oriented and said she would follow through on her promises.

**How voters can learn more:** She suggested searching for her website and visiting the centre/bc website to volunteer, donate, request a sign or ask questions. Email: judy@higginbotham.ca; cell: 604-813-4498; landline: 604-535-9196.

Jessy Sahota, BC Conservatives

**One-sentence bio (maximum 25 words):** An award-winning law-enforcement officer raised in Surrey, she is currently head coach of the Tamanawis Secondary School wrestling team.

**Top three priorities (maximum 10 words each):** 1. Improve Surrey residents’ access to health care. 2. Strengthen public safety. 3. Support Surrey’s secondary and post-secondary education institutions.

**What she would achieve in her first 100 days if elected (maximum 100 words):** Sahota said she would go to Victoria ready to work with colleagues on the serious challenges facing British Columbians and put the province on a stronger course. She said that means focusing on essential services, responsible fiscal management and practical solutions that improve people’s lives.

**Why voters should elect her (maximum 50 words):** She said she has dedicated her life, on and off duty, to serving her community. As a police officer and athlete, she said she has built a record of commitment, discipline and going above and beyond, and would bring the same experience and dedication to representing Surrey residents.

**How voters can learn more:** She said searching her name online would provide more information about her law-enforcement career and involvement in local sports.