A scientist and small business owner vie for the Liberal nomination when riding Burnaby South, where the winner will challenge NDP leader Jagmeet Singh in a federal election.
Liberal spokesman Braeden Caley says biotechnology scientists Cyrus Eduljee and Karen Wang, who run several daycare centers in Burnaby, will vote at the party’s nomination meeting today.
Wang ran for BC Liberals in the 2017 Burnaby-Deer Lake provincial election, while Caley says Eduljee has long been affiliated with local constituency associations.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not yet set a date for the Burnaby South by-election, which has been vacated by former New Democrat MP Kennedy Stewart, now Vancouver mayor.
Corporate attorney Jay Shin is running for the Conservatives, while Greens leader Elizabeth May said the Greens would not run a candidate and Maxime Bernier’s People’s Party in Canada has not nominated one.
READ MORE: PM to hold three by-elections and give Singh a chance to win a seat
The by-election expected in February marks Singh’s biggest political test yet, while at the same time trying to allay the party’s fears of fundraisers, falling polls and a growing list of Veteran MPs who say they won’t run in 2019.
Singh has announced that he will focus on riding campaigns for the next month so that he can cross “voted” off his to-do list for the critical campaign year ahead.
He has refused to say whether he will step down as party leader should he lose.
In the 2015 federal elections, the NDP Burnaby South won with just over 500 votes.
Caley said whoever is nominated today will reflect the Liberal Party’s values and plans for the region.
“Justin Trudeau is focused on a positive plan for British Columbia that invests in affordable housing across the province, reducing commute times through better roads, transit and bridges, protecting a healthy environment and growing our economy,” said Caley .
“You will hear that from our candidate in this riding.”
The Canadian press
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