SURREY – NDP officially named former MP Jinny Sims for Surrey-Panorama with an acclamation ceremony on Monday night in Surrey.
Sims was acclaimed at a packed nomination meeting Monday night at Hyland Elementary School. She was joined by BC NDP Leader John Horgan, who vowed to support public education after years of attacks by Premier Christy Clark.
“Jinny Sims knows how important public education is to children and families and she knows how much harm Christy Clark has caused by stripping away the resources students need to succeed,” Horgan told the packed audience.
“Jinny will be a powerful voice for Surrey families in the BC Legislature.”
Sims, a former teacher, said “Christy Clark only looks out for people at the top. While kids in our schools sit in portables, she gives tax cuts to millionaires. These are the wrong priorities.”
She noted that Horgan has vowed to get rid of portables in Surrey within four years.
She also praised Horgan’s commitment to make significant investments in Surrey’s transit.
Sims served as MP for Surrey-North Delta from 2011 to 2015. She is a former teacher and union leader. In 2014, she was recognized by the United Food and Commercial Workers–Agricultural Workers Alliance for both her role in improving the lives of farm workers and in shining a light on abuse of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
In 2004 Sims was elected president of the BC Teachers’ Federation, where she worked tirelessly to build local support for public education and fought for better learning conditions in classrooms.
Sims lives in Surrey-Panorama with her husband Steve. They have two sons and three grandchildren.
Sims said that investments in education and programs that keep are kids safe will be key topics in the coming election.
