He’s ready to again bring the common sense of a farmer back to Victoria.
That’s what Ian Paton said Monday following Premier John Horgan calling a provincial election for Oct. 24, a year ahead of the one that had been scheduled.
So far, Paton is the only declared candidate in Delta South.
Paton said he is shocked by the NDP’s decision to call a "reckless and irresponsible election" under a provincial state of emergency and in the middle of a global health pandemic.
“Instead of governing until the next fixed election date, John Horgan has decided to play politics and risk the health and safety of our province by calling this needless election. This is a time when we need leadership in Victoria, not electioneering. By calling this election, the NDP has eroded trust in their integrity and ability to govern impartially,” said Paton.
“Locally, my campaign team is ready to go and I will be working hard over the next month to win the support of our great community once again. We will be highlighting the NDP’s failure to deliver on key projects for our community, including the previously promised replacement for Mountain View Manor extended care ward at Delta Hospital, and a replacement for the aging and seismically unsafe Massey Tunnel. In addition, the NDP has implemented 23 new or increased taxes, increasing the tax burden on local residents and businesses at a time when many are just struggling to stay afloat,” he said.
“I'm ready to fight and work for the people of Delta South once again, and return the common sense of a farmer back to Victoria,” he added.
Paton pictured with Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson, who said British Columbians are being forced into a general election nobody wants
A farmer and former city councillor, Paton in the 2017 election took back the riding of Delta South for the Liberals, which had been a stronghold held for two terms by independent Vicki Huntington before she stepped down.
At just over 44 per cent of the vote, Paton finished with 11,123 votes, well ahead of independent Nicholas Wong who finished with 6,437 votes. The NDP’s Bruce Reid had just 5,228 votes, while Green candidate Larry Colero finished with 2,349 votes and the B.C. Action Party’s Errol Sherley finished with 88 votes.
Meanwhile, in the riding of Delta North, New Democrat newcomer Ravi Kahlon defeated Liberal incumbent Scott Hamilton in that election.
Kahlon finished with 11,465 votes, more than 2,000 ahead of Hamilton, winning over 48 per cent of the vote in the riding.
Kahlon announced last week that he will also seek re-election in Delta North.
On Tuesday morning, the Liberals announced that RCMP staff sergeant and youth mentor Jet Sunner would be their candidate in the riding.
The Liberals won the most seats province-wide with 43 compared the NDP’s 41, but the New Democrats under new leader Horgan formed a minority government with the support of the Green Party's three seats under leader Andrew Weaver.
One of the first moves by the new government was to suspend and ultimately cancel the Liberal government’s George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project, a new 10-lane bridge that was commencing construction and scheduled for completion in 2022.
The government later this year will release its business case on a preferred tunnel replacement option.
