BURNABY (NEWS 1130) – The federal Liberals have named a new candidate to run against NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in the Burnaby South by-election.
They say former provincial legislator Richard T. Lee will replace Karen Wang on the ballot on Feb. 25. Lee was elected to the Burnaby North riding in 2001, serving there until his defeat in 2017. Lee also served time as deputy speaker.
Wang stepped aside Wednesday after she urged Chinese people to vote for her, the “only” Chinese candidate, instead of Singh, who she described as “of Indian descent.” After her resignation, she asked the Prime Minister to re-consider and let her run, which he shot down.
The decision for the Liberals to run a candidate in the riding was not a given: Green Party Leader Elizabeth May urged the Liberals to follow her party’s lead in offering a “leader’s courtesy” to Singh by not running against him.
In a news release, Lee says, “This by-election is about ensuring Burnaby South has a strong voice in Parliament to help make life better for families in this community.”
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I’m proud to call Burnaby my home, and this by-election is about ensuring Burnaby South has a strong voice in Parliament to help make life better for families in this community. https://t.co/gIQIpDd0ie
— Richard T Lee (@Richard_T_Lee) January 19, 2019
– With files from the Canadian Press
