Election 2019: B.C., meet your new MPs
Credit to Author: Randy Shore| Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2019 22:47:55 +0000
B.C. will send a dozen fresh faces to Ottawa after the Conservatives surged in popularity in the province. Eight rookie MPs managed to pry their riding from the grip of another party, while four successfully defended a riding after the departure of a predecessor from their own party.
These new MPs were able to seize their ridings from an incumbent party:
Kelowna—Lake Country
Wine industry veteran Tracy Gray easily dislodged Liberal incumbent Stephen Fuhr, capturing a whopping 45.7 per cent of the vote.
Gray has built a solid business resume as the founder of Discover Wines and a director for Prospera Credit Union, and stepped up her public presence as a city councillor for the City of Kelowna and a director for the Central Okanagan regional district from 2014 to 2018.
After months of door-knocking, Gray has identified three key priorities for her first term, specifically tax changes that have hurt small business, affordability, and improving services to treat addiction and mental health issues.
Kootenay—Columbia
A life-long public servant, Rob Morrison bested NDP incumbent Wayne Stetski by more than 5,000 votes.
Morrison has served as director-general with the Treasury Board Secretariat, as a senior superintendent for the RCMP, and as a diplomat in Asia and the Middle East.
His priorities in office are international trade in forestry and mining, planned immigration, and national parks infrastructure.
Cloverdale—Langley City
Tamara Jansen unseated Liberal incumbent John Aldag by 1,302 votes, despite protests and media attention over her socially conservative views on abortion and medical assistance in dying.
Jansen runs a successful greenhouse business with her husband.
Port Moody—Coquitlam
Rookie MP Nelly Shin narrowly wrested the riding from the New Democrats after the retirement of two-term MP Fin Donnelly. She moved into the neighbourhood from Ontario to run for the Conservatives.
A teacher, musician, composer, missionary and businesswoman, Shin came to Canada from South Korea in the late 1970s.
Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon
Brad Vis lost to Liberal Jati Sidhu four years ago, but marched to a clear victory Monday, with more than 42 per cent of the vote.
A long-time Conservative party activist with a Master’s degree in political science, Vis worked as an adviser to Abbotsford MP and former minister of international trade Ed Fast. He prioritizes safe streets, a strong economy, and opportunities for youth.
Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge
A two-term MLA for the provincial Liberals, federal Conservative Marc Dalton unseated incumbent Liberal Dan Ruimy on Monday in a close three-way race.
A former pastor, Dalton ran on his record as an MLA for Maple Ridge—Mission, where he secured local transportation improvements, hospital funding and housing for seniors.
South Surrey—White Rock
Lawyer and former federal cabinet minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay defeated Liberal Gordie Hogg in her second attempt on Monday.
Findlay was a Conservative MP for the former riding of Delta—Richmond East from 2011 to 2015 and served for two years as minister of national revenue in Stephen Harper’s government.
Steveston—Richmond East
Conservative newcomer Kenny Chiu knocked off long-time Liberal Incumbent Joe Peschisolido, who had come under investigation by the federal ethics commissioner.
Originally from Hong Kong, Chiu is a former school board trustee and host on Fairchild morning radio. A software engineer by trade, he has also served on Richmond’s Family and Youth Court Advisory Committee, the Mennonite housing society, and the Philippines Canada Trade Council.
Four new MPs succeeded members from their own party in their riding:
West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea-to-Sky
Lawyer Patrick Weiler held the province’s most socioeconomically diverse riding after fellow Liberal Pamela Goldsmith-Jones decided not to run for a second term in the one-time Conservative stronghold.
With a long record serving governments, First Nations and non-governmental organizations on natural resource management issues, Weiler is committed to the Liberal government’s clean growth and climate change strategy.
Victoria
After incumbent Murray Rankin retired, Laurel Collins was able to hold off a concerted effort by the Greens and retain Victoria for the New Democrats.
A Victoria city councillor, Collins is a long-time community organizer, climate activist, and an instructor and PhD candidate at the University of Victoria. She serves on the Capital Regional District’s water supply commission and as a director on the board of the federal Green Municipal Fund.
Skeena—Bulkley Valley
Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach scored a handy victory in his northwestern B.C. riding after the venerable Nathan Cullen stepped down after serving as MP for 15 years.
Bachrach is chairman of the B.C. Municipal Climate Leadership Council and president of Go By Bike B.C. His top priorities include affordable housing and climate action.
Langley—Aldergrove
Tako Van Popta coasted to an easy win over Liberal contender Leon Jensen, holding the riding for the Conservatives after the death of Mark Warawa last June.
Van Popta is a lawyer and managing partner for McQuarrie Hunter LLP and has served as a director with the Downtown Surrey Business Association and the Surrey Board of Trade. He is also a long-time advocate and volunteer with an interest in housing for seniors. He supports a SkyTrain extension in the Fraser Valley.