The first signs of an election appeared in Chilliwack just hours after it was called on Sept. 21.
And those came from Laurie Throness, the incumbent for Chilliwack-Kent, who was quick to get signs up along roadways throughout town. He also had the constituency signs taken down from his office on Vedder Road, to comply with election rules.
That being said, as of Sept. 22, the BC Liberals still had not confirmed candidates for all ridings.
Throness responded to a request for comment on the election, saying he would not be in the riding office for the duration of the campaign, but that the office was open with an assistant on duty to help constituents. He also commented on the timing of the election, one year earlier than planned.
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“It has become apparent that Minister Dix and Premier Horgan have used Dr. Henry and the sincere co-operation of the BC Liberals and the Green Party for months to bolster Mr. Horgan’s poll numbers, only to use that good will to turn on the other parties a year early, and that during a pandemic,” he wrote in an email. “In my experience, elections can hold surprises because the electorate has a sense of justice about these things. We’ll bring this issue forward, and many more, over the next 32 days.”
Throness was the first candidate to announce his intentions to run in either the Chilliwack or Chilliwack-Kent ridings. John Martin, also a BC Liberal representing Chilliwack, will also likely be running for re-election although no official word on this has been received. (see story page 1).
Martin was also speaking out about the timing of the election.
“An election at this time is completely unnecessary and ill advised during a global pandemic,” he said. “The government faced no risk of being toppled and had a full year before the requirement to go to the polls. Instead, the Premier has chosen to violate his agreement with The Greens, his commitment to the previous Lieutenant Governor and the fixed election date.”
The BC NDP have said that they have nominees in the vetting process, but not confirmed, for both ridings. The final list of candidates will be published after nominations close on Friday, Oct. 2., according to the Elections BC website.
While the candidates haven’t been confirmed, voters can already order mail-in voting packages and change their address via the Elections BC website.
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