By Surbhi Gogia
Baltej Singh Dhillon, a respected community figure, former RCMP officer, and now a BC NDP candidate from the newly created Surrey Serpentine River riding, is urging the community to be informed before voting. He is emphasizing the importance of doing your homework: “My dear community, it’s time to wake up. Pay attention. Don’t just take it at face value. Dig into the facts, gather information, read and then vote for the party you believe deserves the responsibility of governing.”
Dhillon was attending the NDP Rally in Surrey at Aria Banquet Hall on Sunday, September 29th. While speaking to the LINK post Rally where 1000s of NDP supporters gathered to listen to their leader David Eby, Dhillon said there was a lot of misinformation and it was important to research before casting a vote.
Taking a dig at BC Conservative party leader John Rustad, Dhillon highlighted outlandish claims about vaccines based on conspiracy theories. He was referring to a clip, B.C. NDP shared, of Rustad saying he has regrets about getting the “so-called vaccine” for COVID-19. Post clip Rustad has been asked multiple times about the video and his stance on the COVID-19 vaccination program during a news conference on Monday. He repeatedly dodged the questions but said the previous inability of unvaccinated doctors and nurses to get their jobs back in B.C. was a “horrendous problem.”
Dhillon also criticized BC Conservative party for supporting the anti-democratic bizarre and dangerous views. NDP has claimed that some Conservative candidates have advanced anti-democratic conspiracy theories that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump and that the January 6 riots at the capitol are a hoax orchestrated by Democrats. BC NDP leader Eby also wrote to Rustad in an open letter, urging him to drop candidates who Eby said have “dangerous and extreme views.”
Dhillon said, “A party that is openly racist, and believes in conspiracy theories —that’s not who should lead us. David Eby, our Premier, even sent a letter urging Rustad to disown such candidates. If Rustad were serious about leading British Columbia and its people, he would’ve taken action long ago, not after hearing these harmful views countless times.”
Dhillon expressed grave concerns, calling the risk of such leadership the “Rustad Risk.” He noted that British Columbians cannot afford this gamble, especially with candidates like Rustad who fail to prioritize public safety. Being a former cop, Dhillon expressed deep concern over a video shared on the internet where Rustad was seen speaking at an event and said to not use provincial resources to enforce federal gun laws that he called “an overreach by government.”
During a Radio debate with Eby and Green Party leader, Rustad said his party would “go after the source” of gun and gang violence by preventing weapons from entering B.C. through its ports, when Eby raised questions on his views on Gun laws.
On his experience in law enforcement, Dhillon emphasized his party’s dedication to combating organized crime and illicit wealth. “This is the party that has taken strong action against money laundering and organized crime. He also highlighted the addition of 250 new RCMP officers and the creation of a new gang homicide team to address violent crime in the province.
When asked about his priorities for his riding, Dhillon who has been a resident of Surrey for 35 years beamed with pride, “I live in an amazing community with diverse voices excited for this election. They see a government that, in just six years, has done more than others did in over a decade. We’re giving people a chance to return to normalcy.” He acknowledged the challenges of inflation and interest rates but reassured voters that even during tough times, his party had supported them with what they needed to make it through.
Dhillon remains hopeful that his party will continue to bring progress, admitting that while there’s more to be done, the BC NDP is committed to facing challenges head-on. “Families are struggling, some can’t afford homes or groceries, but they know this government has a real plan, not just press releases,” he said.
Regarding specific projects for Surrey Serpentine, Dhillon pointed out ongoing improvements in schools, housing, and healthcare, particularly a new hospital coming soon. He emphasized that while there’s a lot left to do, much progress is already visible. He also spoke passionately about the importance of Surrey, noting that under previous governments, the city was neglected, but now, it’s receiving the infrastructure support it desperately needs.
