Trio of experienced and dedicated candidates to succeed retiring incumbents

The BC NDP today announced three new candidates seeking the party’s nomination in seats formerly held by BC NDP MLAs: Nina Krieger in Victoria-Swan Lake, Jessie Sunner in Surrey-Newton, and Amna Shah in Surrey City Centre.

These three talented women will be running to replace incumbent BC NDP MLAs, who recently announced their retirements: Rob Fleming, Bruce Ralston and Harry Bains.

Nina Krieger is running in Victoria-Swan Lake. A Victoria resident, she has dedicated her career to advancing education and combatting discrimination and hate of all kinds. As Executive Director of Western Canada’s leading Holocaust museum, she has positioned the organization for significant expansion within a multigenerational Jewish community centre that will continue to serve a diversity of people and include childcare, seniors’ services, and arts and culture spaces.

“Growing up, I watched my father contribute to the union movement and had a front row seat to the BC NDP’s support for working people,” said Krieger. “That’s why I’m seeking a nomination with David Eby’s team: because of its record of decisive action on housing, healthcare and education, and its inclusive vision for the province. The people of Victoria and all of BC can count on us to be in their corner.”

Jessie Sunner, a trade unionist and human rights lawyer, is running in Surrey-Newton. As legal counsel for the Hospital Employees’ Union, she fights for workers’ rights and a stronger healthcare system every day. In addition to her legal work, she takes action as a volunteer in her community, serving as Vice-President of the Surrey Women’s Centre, and sitting on the boards of the South Asian Bar Association, the BC Canadian Bar Association Human Rights Law Section, and the BC College of Social Workers.

“As the daughter of Punjabi immigrants, I learned from a young age what it means to have a government that has the community’s best interests at heart,” said Sunner. “The BC NDP is fighting for us: for housing we can afford, for a stronger public healthcare system, and for money in our pockets. When John Rustad was in cabinet, his government made deep cuts. We can’t afford the risk of him doing it again.”

Amna Shah is running in Surrey City Centre. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Surrey Food Bank, and in that role led the expansion of distribution services across Surrey, ensuring that everyone can have nutritious food in a dignified environment. As the Director of Outreach and Stakeholder Relations with the BC Government Caucus, she builds relationships between government MLAs and BC’s diverse communities.

“People in Surrey-City Centre need a government that will act to make our lives easier: from expanded transit, to strengthened education, to new healthcare facilities — and that's the BC NDP,” said Shah. “The government which John Rustad was a part of said no to a new hospital in Surrey. We have chosen differently. The people of Surrey City Centre can count on me and the BC NDP to have their best interests at heart.”

“These are three impressive candidates and each one is an excellent addition to our BC NDP team,” said Premier David Eby. “Nina, Jessie and Amna have all taken action to help improve the lives of people in their communities. I know that British Columbians will be able to count on them every day to fight for affordability, for housing you can afford, and for healthcare when you need it.”

These three candidates are running unopposed and will be acclaimed by their BC NDP Electoral District Associations in August. Election Day is October 19.