BC Conservatives Demand Election Review Over Surrey-Guildford ‘Irregularities’
The British Columbia Conservative Party is raising concerns over alleged voting irregularities in Surrey-Guildford, a riding that proved pivotal in securing the BC NDP’s narrow majority in the provincial legislature. Conservative leader John Rustad and Surrey-Guildford candidate Honveer Singh Randhawa are calling for greater scrutiny of the election process, citing claims of improper mail-in voting and procedural lapses.
The controversy centers around mail-in ballots cast by residents of Argyll Lodge, a mental health and addiction recovery facility located near a polling station. Rustad claims 21 ballots were improperly submitted from the facility, with affidavits from residents stating they were unaware of the election and felt pressured to vote. These ballots represent nearly half of the 45 that the Conservatives have flagged as irregular in Surrey-Guildford. Additional claims include allegations of votes cast by non-residents of the riding and one individual allegedly submitting two ballots under different names.
Elections BC, the province’s independent electoral body, has acknowledged the complaint and stated it is under review. The agency has disputed some of the claims, noting that mail-in ballots must be individually requested, contrary to the assertion that they are delivered automatically to facilities like Argyll Lodge.
Randhawa has announced plans to petition the BC Supreme Court to invalidate the Surrey-Guildford result, a move that would trigger a byelection. However, the BC Conservatives have stated they will not be financially supporting Randhawa’s legal challenge.
A Crucial Seat in a Divided Legislature
Surrey-Guildford’s close result underscores its significance in the provincial legislature. Following a recount conducted by hand, the NDP’s Garry Begg was declared the winner by just 22 votes, securing Premier David Eby’s government a bare majority with 47 of the legislature’s 93 seats. The Conservatives, meanwhile, hold 44 seats, leaving the Green Party’s two seats as the balance of power.
Rustad has called for an independent review of the entire election process, including concerns over alleged voting by non-citizens and administrative issues such as the temporary misplacement of ballots in another riding. He has also proposed reforms to strengthen electoral integrity, such as requiring proof of citizenship to vote in provincial elections.
NDP Responds to Allegations
The NDP has downplayed the Conservatives’ claims, framing the call for an election review as a distraction from pressing provincial issues. Attorney General Niki Sharma stated that Rustad is entitled to raise concerns but emphasized her confidence in Elections BC to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Sharma also questioned the Conservatives’ decision not to formally attach their party to Randhawa’s court challenge, suggesting a lack of commitment to the allegations. She reiterated the government’s focus on broader priorities, such as addressing economic challenges and preparing for potential trade tensions with the United States.
“This isn’t about playing partisan politics — it’s about asking very serious and important questions about BC’s elections process, and the integrity of our democracy in British Columbia and in Canada,” said Rustad.
“We are naive to believe that bad actors will not take advantage of these loopholes that can undermine the integrity of the vote, in our democracy.”
