Voting underway in federal byelection in B.C.’s Cloverdale-Langley City riding

Polls are now open in the highly anticipated byelection for the federal seat of Cloverdale-Langley City, located in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. This election comes on the heels of former two-term Liberal MP John Aldag’s resignation to run for the B.C. NDP in the provincial election, where he ultimately lost to Harman Bhangu of the B.C. Conservatives on October 19.

The Liberal candidate vying for the seat is Madison Fleischer, a well-known local business owner and community leader. Fleischer recently faced scrutiny from a local Métis community organization regarding her claims to Indigenous heritage. On the other hand, the federal Conservatives are hoping to regain the riding with their candidate Tamara Jansen, who previously held the seat from 2019 to 2021.

Vanessa Sharma is representing the NDP in the byelection, with her party profile highlighting her as a mental health advocate and anti-racism activist. Additionally, the Libertarian Party and People’s Party have also put forth candidates in the riding.

Cloverdale-Langley City encompasses an area of Surrey, B.C., as well as the entire City of Langley, with a population of approximately 130,000 residents as per the 2021 census. The riding has been a battleground in recent elections, with Aldag losing to Jansen by a slim margin in 2019 and then winning by a narrow margin in 2021.

Due to the Canada Post strike causing delays, voter information cards were not sent out to constituents. Elections Canada is urging voters to visit their website for information on how to cast their ballots in this crucial byelection.

As the candidates campaign vigorously in Cloverdale-Langley City, the outcome of this election is eagerly awaited by residents and political observers alike. Stay tuned for updates on the results of this closely contested race.