The federal Conservatives have prevented a seasoned politician and lifelong local from running in the upcoming election.
Michael de Jong, who had been well on his way to becoming the Conservative candidate in Abbotsford - South Langley, was told that the party did not believe he was the right fit.
"Last night, the Conservative Party of Canada informed me that after nearly a year of campaigning ... they have declined my application to contest the nomination," De Jong wrote in a post on Facebook.
The nomination vote is set to be held on Saturday March 8.
He explained that the decision was made after the local Electoral District Candidate Selection Committee unanimously endorsed his candidacy, calling it "surprising" given that he has served as the MLA in the community for nearly 30 years, during which time he won multiple elections, held senior cabinet positions, and advocated for the interests of his constituents.
"I have been advised informally that the Conservative Party felt that I was not sufficiently qualified to serve as a member of parliament," De Jong added, "a conclusion that is disappointing—not just for me, but for the thousands of Conservative members who signed up to support my candidacy and were prepared to cast their vote for me this weekend."
He went on to say it was "difficult to comprehend" how he of all people could be deemed too inexperienced to have his name on the ballot, but, "more importantly, it is hard to understand why the Conservative Party would deny the members of Abbotsford - South Langley the opportunity to make that decision for themselves."
"Ultimately, it is up to the party centrally to explain their decision," De Jong concluded. "I remain deeply grateful for the overwhelming support of my volunteers and supporters, and I regret that they will not have the chance to demonstrate their choice at the ballot box this weekend."
De Jong was raised in Matsqui, and after going to university to become a lawyer, returned to the community and entered politics. He first served as a trustee for School District 34 before running for the BC Liberals in a 1994 by-election. His dethroning of the Social Credit Party, who had held the riding for 42 years, catapulted his career. Over the following decades, de Jong held numerous cabinet positions, including minister of health, and minister of finance.
In April 2024, he announced that he would be stepping aside from provincial politics to seek the Conservative nomination for Abbotsford - South Langley. His rivals included Shanjeelin Dwivedi, Mike Murray, Steve Schafer, Sukhman Singh Gill, Gurnoor Sidhu, and Dustin Hiles. While the latter has since dropped out.
