The Race to Replace BC Premier Horgan is Now!

British Columbia AttorneyGeneral David Eby is the only candidate who has officially declared his intent to run for the position of next B.C. premier. After John Horgan, the incumbent premier and leader of NDP, recently declared he would be retiring for health reasons.

B.C. NDP President Aaron Sumexheltza announced in a statement last week that the party’s leadership campaign will run from July 17 to Dec. 3, 2022, at which time the party will announce the new premier. NDP members may begin voting starting in November. 13.

Eby announced his bid for leadership on July 19. Eby claims that he plans to focus his efforts on providing affordable housing, childcare, and increasing the availability of family doctors in the province if elected.

” I believe that if I succeed, I will represent a new generation in British Columbia leaders,” Eby stated.

NDP jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon was looking at a leadership candidacy. dropped out in July to support Eby. Eby is the “right person” to become our next Premier

, according to Kahlon .

High-profile Finance Minister Selina Robinson said in a Tweet that she had “considered seriously” running for party leadership, but dropped out to “focus on [her] roles as MLA and finance minister.”

Municipal Affairs Minister Nathan Cullen, another high-profile cabinet minister, has also said he won’t be seeking the position.

Brad West, Port Coquitlam’s mayor has also been mentioned. According to Tri-City News, West has not yet confirmed any plans to run for mayoral re-election in the fall.

The 37-year-old father of two became Metro Vancouver’s youngest mayor upon election in 2018. Since then, he has been known for his outspoken opposition to the Chinese Communist Party’s attacks and violations of human rights and adverse effects of CCP-linked money launder in B.C.

When asked if he’d consider running for NDP leader, West said that he was “very humbled” by the support messages he received from Port Coquitlam residents and others in the Province .”

” I will be sharing my plans for my future political life in the next weeks,” he stated.

B.C. Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside was mentioned as another potential leader candidate. However, she also supported Eby. The New Westminster MLA said Eby “will lead our party and our government with strength & empathy,” in a Tweet.

The party elected Elizabeth Cull ,, a former minister to the cabinet, chief electoral officer for supervising the race. Those wishing to run must submit their applications to Cull for review and pay the entrance fee of $40,000 by Oct. 19, as specified in the party’s race regulations document. Candidates must completely fund raise their entrance fees and also must be NDP members “in good standing” for at least 90 days before the election date.

Horgan has been B.C.’s premier for the past five years and has served in the province’s legislative assembly for the last 17. He has been elected to two straight terms as the province’s leader, but said his health concerns were too great to run for a third straight term in 2024. Horgan will lead the NDP provincial until it finishes its leadership race.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.

Read More