This week brought the news that our MLA Judy Darcy is not seeking re-election.

Passionate – powerful – genuine – Judy has been an incredible MLA and a mentor to many people. Like all of us, I’m grateful for the important work she has led, particularly to create better supports for people dealing with mental illness and addictions.

Many people in the community have encouraged me to consider running for MLA. So I am writing today to tell you that I have decided to put my name forward to be our NDP candidate here in New Westminster. As a child of a working-class, immigrant family, I believe everyone should be able to enjoy the security and quality of life that my partner and I have built for our family here in New West. I’ve spent my working life bringing people together to create stronger communities for everyone. I would be proud to put my values and experience to work representing New Westminster in Victoria.

This COVID-19 pandemic has really driven home what is most important to me. My husband has a compromised immune system, so he relies on our collective choices and the integrity of our healthcare system for his personal safety. I’ve seen my daughter work hard to keep up with school, hold onto her friendships and stay positive about her future in the midst of so much economic uncertainty. We’ve seen how hard it is for those who are isolated in our community. It’s been painful to be apart from my elderly father in quarantine in a care home for six months, unable to see my mother.  I’ve always believed that public health care and education are vital, but it’s never been clearer that these public services truly are the foundation of our economy. I’m so proud of how the Horgan government has led us through this crisis with courage and compassion. 

New Westminster has been a big part of my life. I spent childhood weekends attending the Sahib Sukh Sagar Gurdwara in Queensborough, where my family spent countless hours cooking and preparing for family and community celebrations. My first job was at River Market in 1984, making mini donuts! And Sapperton is where my husband and I chose to build a home and raise our daughter.

Our community is one of the most liveable in our region, but there is more to do to improve our quality of life. I still hear that the search for affordable housing remains a crisis for too many people, and has driven many families out of town. The NDP’s housing investments are making a difference, and we must keep up the pace so that New Westminster remains a place where everyday people can afford to live. We must also do our part in housing the most vulnerable among us, so that if any of us hit hard times, we have a safe place to get back on our feet.

At the centre of a busy region, traffic and transportation continue to challenge our residents. Finding ways to calm our streets, reduce pollution and expand alternative transportation is a huge priority for our community. This is just one piece of the work we must do to meet the challenge of climate change and hit BC’s climate change targets by 2030 — something my daughter and her friends don’t let me forget.

I’m humbled by the legacy of those who have served the NDP here, including Dawn Black, Chuck Puchmayr, Graeme Bowbrick, Anita Hagen and Dennis Cocke. I am committed to upholding the NDP’s values of fairness, compassion and opportunity and making New West proud, as part of a John Horgan NDP government.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, questions and ideas! Please reach out and connect with me and my team.