By R. Paul Dhillon
SURREY – NDP made it official Thursday that they have selected former NDP Member of Parliament Jinny Sims to run in Surrey-Panorama, setting up another Battle Royale with her federal nemesis Sukh Dhaliwal, who earlier convinced his friend Premier Christy Clark to give the riding’s ticket to his hand-picked candidate Puneet Sandhar
Sims’ candidacy is bad news for Dhaliwal and Sandhar as they will now have to spend much more money and effort to try to win the riding for the BC Liberals. There is the added problem of a mutiny brewing in Surrey after Clark put all her Surrey political eggs in Dhaliwal’s basket by choosing his candidate Sandhar to run in Surrey-Panorama instead of holding an open nomination. This has created deep divisions in BC Liberals’ Indo-Canadian supporters which is expected to bite Fassbender and maybe even rookie Amrik Virk right where it hurts, not to mention setting up another nasty fight between Dhaliwal and Sims.
Along with Sims, who will be acclaimed candidate in Surrey-Panorama on November 28, NDP also announced former cop Gary Begg will also be the acclaimed candidate in Surrey-Guildford to run agains the BC Liberals’ former cop candidate and current MLA Virk
“Surrey continues to be one of B.C.’s fastest-growing cities and we are not getting our fair share from the B.C. Liberals. Making improvements to our transportation, education, and health care systems as well as creating safer neighbourhoods by tackling violent crime must be a priority for Surrey families. Only John Horgan and the BC New Democrats are offering real solutions to address these issues and that is why I am excited to seek the nomination in Surrey-Guildford,” said Begg.
Begg served as an RCMP officer and Inspector for over 38 years and was a candidate in Fleetwood-Port Kells during the 2015 Federal election.
“As a teacher, I know the importance of a good education system. Surrey kids and parents are not getting their fair share from Christy Clark. The B.C. Liberals are failing to plan for Surrey’s growth and it is unacceptable that our kids will spend their years learning in portables. We cannot accept the status quo. We need to build real classrooms, and we need a government willing to make an investment in the future of our kids. John Horgan and the BC New Democrats have a plan for stable, adequate funding for public education in Surrey and that plan confirmed my decision to seek the nomination in Surrey-Panorama.”
Sims was elected as an Member of Parliament for Newton-North Delta in 2011. She also served as the President of the BC Teachers Federation after being elected in 2004.
The Surrey-Panorama nomination meeting will be held on Monday, November 28th, 7:00pm at Hyland Elementary School. The Surrey-Guildford nomination meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 30th, 7:30pm at the Guildford Recreation Centre.
