Dan Coulter, the current NDP MLA for Chilliwack, has once again been nominated by his riding association to run for office.
The nomination took place on May 25, but will be for a slightly different riding than his current one, due to a recent electoral boundary adjustment. The new riding will Chilliwack North, and will represent a population of 52,440, centred on downtown, along with Sumas Mountain, Greendale, Rosedale and Popkum. Yarrow and Deroche will no longer be a part of the riding.
READ MORE: New names, boundaries for Chilliwack ridings set for next election
Coulter was first elected as the MLA for Chilliwack in 2020 and serves as the Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit. Prior to being elected MLA, he was a trustee and chair of the Chilliwack Board of Education.
A press release was sent out announcing the nomination, including Coulter’s background prior to politics. He was a union local president and a millwright, and was severely injured in a workplace accident in 1999.
Coulter “believes people have the right to rewarding jobs and safe working conditions so they can build good lives in the communities they love,” the press release states.
“Chilliwack is growing at an unprecedented rate and people here need more housing, schools, transportation options and health care services,” said Coulter. “Our BC NDP team is taking action to increase services and infrastructure and I will work tirelessly to make Chilliwack an even better place to raise your family. We can’t afford the reckless cuts to hospitals and schools we’ve seen before and that John Rustad and his Conservative party are planning again.”
The Conservative candidate for Chilliwack North will be Heather Maahs, a former colleague of Coulter’s from the school board, of which Maahs is still a member.
The BC United Party has chosen Dr. David Moniz for Chilliwack North. No other parties have announced candidates in that riding as of publication time.
The May 25 press release outlined some of the work undertaken by the NDP government that would have an impact on Chilliwack. The list includes “strengthening healthcare by hiring 700 more doctors, licensing internationally trained health professionals to work in B.C., and investing in upgrades to Chilliwack General Hospital.”
It also lists “tackling housing costs, expanding $10 a day childcare, building more schools and upgrading Highway 1 through Abbotsford.
“Dan is a longtime resident who understands the growing needs for people living in Chilliwack,” Premier David Eby said. “He has made improving housing, education, roads and health care here his number one priority and will continue to be your advocate over the next four years and stand firm against John Rustad and the BC Conservatives and the threat of their deep cuts to the services we depend on.”
So far there are 91 NDP candidates across the province, and there will be 93 electoral districts following the boundary adjustments that will come into effect with the election expected in October.
READ MORE: Heather Maahs to run in Chilliwack North for B.C. Conservatives
