Burnaby North-Seymour residents now know who the three main candidates will be whenever a federal election is declared.
On Friday, lawyer Jim Hanson was elected to stand as the NDP’s candidate in the riding, defeating candidates Markiel Simpson and Jason Blackman.
Hanson is a two-term councillor in the District of North Vancouver, elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.
"People have started to see the real Justin Trudeau in the last few years, and we need more than just empty talk,” said Hanson, in a statement. “Burnaby North-Seymour residents want real investments in local affordable housing, reliable transportation, and a real climate action plan."
He will challenge incumbent Liberal MP Terry Beech and 31-year-old Kelsey Shein, who was elected to be the candidate for the Conservatives.
Announced in a press release, Shein described herself as a born-and-bred British Columbian and an experienced campaigner, having held every position from intern to senior campaign manager.
“I’m a life-long Conservative, and grew up in and around this riding,” Shein said. “I’ve knocked on doors in dozens of campaigns, worked in Ottawa for Conservative MPs, and now want to represent the hard-working people of Burnaby North-Seymour as we strengthen Canada coming out of COVID.”
In March, Beech was appointed parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages. This is in addition to his existing role as parl-sec. to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
Federal NDP candidates have finished second in the riding in both general elections since the electoral district was officially created in 2013.
Beech was re-elected to the riding in the last federal election with a little more than 1,500 votes over NDP challenger and former Burnaby MP Svend Robinson.
- With additional reporting by Cameron Thomson
