Federal byelection called in B.C.’s Cloverdale-Langley City riding
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made an announcement regarding the upcoming byelection in the federal seat of Cloverdale-Langley City, located in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. The byelection is scheduled to take place on Dec. 16, following the resignation of former MP John Aldag.
Aldag, who had represented the Liberals in the seat from 2015-19 and then again from 2021 until May, stepped down to run for the B.C. NDP in the provincial election. Unfortunately, he was defeated by B.C. Conservative candidate Harman Bhangu in the Langley-Abbotsford riding, receiving just under 34 percent of the votes.
This byelection marks the 11th such campaign since the 2021 federal election. Cloverdale-Langley City encompasses an area of Surrey, B.C., as well as the entire City of Langley, with a population of around 130,000 residents as per the 2021 census.
Campaigns in Cloverdale-Langley City have historically been closely contested, with Aldag narrowly losing in 2019 and winning by a slim margin in 2021. The Liberal Party has announced its intention to nominate a candidate for the seat on Sunday evening.
Trudeau’s party has faced a series of setbacks in recent byelections, including losses in previously safe Liberal seats in Montreal and Toronto. The federal Conservatives are aiming to regain the riding with their candidate Tamara Jansen, a former MP who previously held the seat from 2019 to 2021.
Elections Canada has set four advanced voting days from Dec. 6 to 9 at designated polling stations in the Cloverdale-Langley City district. Registered voters can also cast their ballot at the Elections Canada office until Dec. 10. For those opting to vote by mail, the deadline to apply is 6 p.m. PT on Dec. 10, with ballots needing to be returned by mail or in person at the Elections Canada office before polls close on Dec. 16.
