A Vancouver city councillor will be the B.C. NDP’s candidate in the Vancouver-Little Mountain riding in the upcoming provincial election.
Christine Boyle, who leads the OneCity municipal party, secured the nomination after defeating former city councillor Andrea Reimer. Boyle says there is a lot of work to do ahead of this fall’s election
“Elections are always about connecting with the residents … a lot of door-knocking and community work and I look forward to it,” Boyle told CBC News during a Zoom interview.
The nomination race came after B.C.’s longtime environment minister, George Heyman, announced that he is not going to run in this fall’s provincial election..
Heyman, who has been the MLA for Vancouver-Fairview since 2013, endorsed Reimer to seek the NDP nomination in the newly-formed riding of Vancouver-Little Mountain.
Boyle, who was endorsed by Premier David Eby’s wife, Cailey Lynch, says going up against Reimer was “bittersweet.”
“I have a lot of respect for Andrea Reimer,” Boyle said. “We’ve known each other a long time and I really would have much rather that we be able to be in government together than be running against each other.”
On The Coast9:12B.C. NDP nominates Vancouver City Councillor for riding of Vancouver-Little Mountain
Vancouver City Councillor Christine Boyle talks about winning the B.C. NDP nomination in the new riding of Vancouver-Little Mountain and what she’ll bring to provincial politics.
Reimer, in a statement posted on LinkedIn, said she is proud of her team and the campaign.
“What I can say is this: We went up against a candidate who had a three-month head start, and the premier’s wife behind her, and came within 12 votes of making history in Little Mountain,” she wrote.
“I’m proud of that and extremely proud of the team that came together to make it happen.”
If Boyle is elected to represent Vancouver-Little Mountain, a byelection will be called to fill her council seat.
Mayor Ken Sim’s ABC Vancouver party currently holds a majority on city council.
“My hope is if I end up stepping down from the city, that we can elect another strong progressive voice to continue to push forward important, tangible progressive policy ideas and to hold the council majority to account,” Boyle said.
Boyle was elected to city council in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.
The B.C. NDP candidate says she will continue to advocate for rental, co-op and non-market housing.
“I will continue to work hard on those issues in my city role. And should I be so fortunate as to be elected as an MLA in October, then I will … work hard to make a difference in meaningful ways for the residents of Little Mountain and across the province.”