THE RIDING
The June 24 byelection in Langford-Juan de Fuca is being held to fill the seat left vacant when New Democrat John Horgan, the former premier, resigned in March. This is the first election without Horgan is almost two decades: He was first elected in 2005 and dominated the Juan de Fuca riding in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2020.
Running this time around are Camille Currie (Green), Mike Harris (Conservative), Elena Lawson (BC United, formerly the BC Liberals), Ravi Parmar (NDP), and Tyson Riel Strandlund (Communist). Their answers to questions from our candidate questionnaire are below.
2020 RESULTS
NDP — John Horgan — 18,073 (67.89 per cent)
Green — Gord Baird — 4,437 (16.67 per cent)
Liberal — Kelly Darwin — 3,980 (14.95 per cent)
Communist — Tyson Riel Strandlund — 130 (0.49 per cent)
Voter turnout: 55.35 per cent (26,742 votes cast)
THE CANDIDATES
Camille Currie, BC Greens
Born in Metchosin, lives in Langford. Previously an integrity officer for the federal government, now runs a personal training business.
How have you made a difference in your community?
When my family lost our family doctor in January 2022, I thought of the thousands of others without a family doctor. “My voice, their voice!” I responded to this crisis, which is so acute for families in the West Shore, by engaging social media, news media and like-minded activists to expose the crisis. I organized rallies and public meetings to ensure diverse perspectives were honoured and listened to. I have worked collaboratively and respectfully with B.C. health professionals and elected officials and continue to challenge every citizen to find their voice in all matters that affect them, including health.
What is the main issue in your riding?
The top priorities I am hearing at the doorsteps are access to timely health care, affordability and the environment. As MLA, I will work to advance measures to streamline administration, increase patient access, and improve wait times. Our health care system has been mismanaged and requires transformation. We need more community health centres that can meet the physical, mental and supportive needs of our communities. The Green Party has called to reform the use of NDAs so voices can be heard without fear of retaliation. I am passionate about public engagement, universal health care, accountability and transparency.
What community groups and/or issues have you been involved with?
I was the founder of Canada 91原创 Health Care Matters Society, which operates as BC Healthcare matters. I have also been involved in advocacy for children with disabilities.
What is your political experience?
As an advocate, I founded BC Healthcare Matters which was successful in pressuring the government to take the primary health care crisis seriously.
Who is one person who has made a positive difference in your life?
My husband Shawn. We are a team and he supports me in all my endeavours to help those in need. Shawn and I have been together for the last 22 years and I would not be here today without his encouragement. We face challenges, we devise a plan, and we rise above, together.
Why did you decide to run in this byelection?
I’m seeking to represent the people of Langford-Juan de Fuca to further the work I have been doing in healthcare, and to bring the voices and concerns of our community into the legislature. I want to join a team that is solutions-based and grounded in the wellbeing of our community, and this wonderful place that we call home. That team is Sonia Furstenau and the BC Greens.
Mike Harris, BC Conservatives
Has lived in the riding for two years. Realtor for almost 30 years.
How have you made a difference in your community?
I am fairly new to this community, I have been in Langford for 2 years now. However I have always been involved in the Community that I live in whether it is Coaching or collecting food for the food banks.
What is the main issue in your riding?
Transportation is one of the main issues in this riding. The highways are jam packed; traffic is unreal. People are sitting in their vehicles for hours when they should be at home spending time with their family. This is the fastest growing community in B.C. — we deserve this investment in our infrastructure.
I’m in real estate. I’ve seen Langford grow at an unbelievable pace first-hand — we’re welcoming in so many new families. It’s fantastic, but we need the province to step up and give us the investment we deserve. Frankly, this should have happened a long time ago, but the NDP took our votes for granted and BC Liberals [now BC United] didn’t make investments in us when they had the chance.
What community groups and/or issues have you been involved with?
Minor hockey, minor baseball in a previous community in Mission
What is your political experience?
I have only been a spectator up until now, but I see a real need for change
How have you made a difference in your community?
I am fairly new to this community, I have been in Langford for 2 years now. However I have always been involved in the community that I live in whether it is coaching or collecting food for the food banks.
Who is one person who has made a positive difference in your life?
My father was a big influence in my life, he also was a carpenter, home builder, furniture maker and small business owner.
Why did you decide to run in this byelection?
I believe we need change, and I want to be the voice of that change! I want to give the public a common sense option. We need someone with business experience in the legislature who knows what the everyday people are going through.
Elena Lawson, BC United
Born in Victoria, lives just outside the riding boundaries. Procurement initiatives co-ordinator with the B.C. Public Service (on leave during campaign).
How have you made a difference in your community?
In 2021, when the NDP announced sweeping changes to autism policies in B.C., I stepped up to elevate the voices of families across the province. I co-founded the Children’s Autism Federation of B.C., organized protests at the legislature, and was a strong advocate in getting the NDP to stop their plan to scrap individualized autism funding — at least for now.
What is the main issue in your riding?
Langford-Juan de Fuca is one of the fastest growing communities in B.C. When I’m speaking to residents at the door, I ask them the same question: “What is your top issue?” Their response: “I can’t pick just one!” With increasing crime, open drug use at parks and playgrounds, lack of family doctors or walk in clinics, broken promises with obtainable childcare, children not being able to get into their catchment schools, lack of transportation, affordable housing and mental health supports…the issues are endless. We need to better support our community. Langford-Juan de Fuca residents deserve better!
What community groups and/or issues have you been involved with?
Vice President for school PAC, co-created multiple autism advocacy groups including a registered non-profit (Children’s Autism Federation of BC).
What is your political experience?
I was never political before the NDP blindsided families like mine by threatening to take away individual autism funding. After becoming involved with autism advocacy, I stepped into politics because I refused to let the NDP get away with pushing around families.
Who is one person who has made a positive difference in your life?
My sons, William and Marcus, are my motivation in life and my reason for stepping into politics. Their resilience and strength help me to keep fighting for what is right, and for their future. And their hugs keep me smiling after a long day on the campaign trail.
Why did you decide to run in this byelection?
I believe that better is possible, and the last thing that’s going to make that happen is one more NDP ‘yes man’ that will fail to deliver the actual outcomes Langford-Juan de Fuca residents deserve. I decided to run because I was tired of families like mine being ignored and bullied by this government. Like many others, I’m fed up with the status quo and I want change. I want to keep this government accountable for the poor policy decisions they keep pushing through with little to no consultation or consideration for the people who are affected.
Ravi Parmar, BC NDP
Born in Greater Victoria, lives in Langford. Chair of the Sooke School District Board of Education and chief of staff in the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation (currently on leave from both).
How have you made a difference in your community?
As the board chair for the Sooke School District, I worked with John Horgan to lead the largest expansion of public education in our district’s history — with a record number of new schools, expansions and land purchases for future schools. I want to do the same when it comes to health services as the new MLA.
What is the main issue in your riding?
People in Sooke and Langford tell me they want to see more investments in health services, new schools and relief to the cost of living issue impacted by global inflation. They know the BC NDP government has made record investments in our communities, but they want to see more. I agree there is more to do, and I plan to deliver results as the MLA.
What community groups and/or issues have you been involved with?’
As a student at the old Belmont Secondary School on Jacklin Road, I led a student walkout that forced the previous government to replace the aging school with two new high schools. As the School Board chair in Sooke, I worked with John Horgan to lead the largest expansion of public education in our school district’s history with 2,200 new seats since 2017.
What is your political experience?
As a student at the old Belmont Secondary School on Jacklin Road, I led a student walkout that forced the previous government to replace the aging school. This is where I got my start in politics and eventually led to me being elected as a school trustee and chair of the Sooke School District,
Who is one person who has made a positive difference in your life?
My grandmother. She is the matriarch of our family and someone I hold in the highest of regards. She and my parents came to Canada with nothing and helped raise me and my siblings and made us into who we are today.
Why did you decide to run in this byelection?
I have a proven track record of delivering for my community, whether as a student activist, trustee or chair of our school board. I want to keep the momentum and continue the hard work of John Horgan in delivering for our communities. I want to be your MLA because I will work day and night to deliver for you and your family.
Tyson Riel Strandlund, Communist
Born in Victoria, went to school in Langford and now lives in Esquimalt. Works for a progressive non-profit organization as the regional director for 91原创 Island.
How have you made a difference in your community?
I have worked for over a decade to increase working-class consciousness in the community while standing in solidarity and oppressed groups fighting for progressive causes. I feel very strongly that voicing anti-capitalist educating the public about socialism is a worthwhile endeavour. Under the current hegemony of neoliberal ideological thinking which is leading our society to increasingly dangerous places, leaving people cynical and hopeless, if I’ve encouraged even a single person to take up the struggle for a better future, I don’t consider that effort to be in vain.
What is the main issue in your riding?
Capitalism! The profit-driven capitalist system is at the root of the housing crisis, climate change, skyrocketing costs of food, fuel and rent, the degradation of our public health care system, the opioid crisis, chronic underfunding of public education, and falling real wages. We urgently need a system where working people have political power, not corporations and the rich —and that system is socialism!
What community groups and/or issues have you been involved with?
I’m an executive member of the 91原创 Network on Cuba, and the 91原创 Peace Congress.I’ve been active in the student movement, a strong supporter of Indigenous rights, and a range of other progressive causes.
What is your political experience?
I helped develop legislation with other youth and student leaders on the decolonization of Venezuela’s education system which was implemented throughout the country in 2019. As a member of the 91原创 Network on Cuba I’ve worked closely with representatives from various Cuban government organizations.
Who is one person who has made a positive difference in your life?
91原创 doctor, anti-fascist, and Communist Party member Cde. Norman Bethune. Dr.Bethune fought for years to build a mass movement capable of demanding a system of socialized healthcare for Canada, a movement so powerful amongst working-class 91原创s and organized labour that politicians in Canada were finally pressured into implementing this demand. I’m extremely grateful to Dr. Bethune for the socialized healthcare system we have today, for setting an example of how to fight and win important struggles for working people, and for his sacrifices resisting fascism in Spain and Japanese imperialism in China.
Why did you decide to run in this byelection?
Capitalism is in crisis, working class people are struggling, and there is an urgent need to build the movement for socialism. After six years of NDP governance, many are rightfully cynical and disillusioned about what is possible under the capitalist system. Whoever is elected from the bourgeois parties, things continue to get worse for the majority while corporations and the rich continue to get richer. I want people to vote Communist to send a powerful message, while also working to build the labour, student, women’s, 2S/LGBTQ+, environmental, and Indigenous rights movements to put the pressure on elected leaders.
