Who's running in Surrey-Newton?
- Tegjot Bal, Conservative Party
- Amrit Birring, Freedom Party of BC
- Japreet Lehal, unaffiliated
- Joginder Singh Randhawa, independent
- Jessie Sunner, BC NDP
What you should know about Surrey-Newton
Surrey-Newton is a longtime NDP fortress held since 2005 by MLA Harry Bains, 72, who retired from politics with an announcement through the Now-Leader in July. The new BC NDP candidate is human rights and labour lawyer Jessie Sunner, facing off against marketing executive and Radio Punjab radio host Tegjot Bal and three other candidates.
The electoral district represents a portion of Newton proper, which has a population greater than that of Delta. The riding itself has a population of more than 62,000, heavily South Asian, with some 15,000 households and a strong blue-collar presence with a lot of manufacturing within its 14 square kilometres.
The average number of people in B.C.'s 93 electoral districts is 53,773, making Surrey-Newton one of the most populous ridings.
The riding elected its first MLA in 1986 – Social Credit's Rita Johnston, who later served as premier.
This time out, five MLA candidates are seeking election in Surrey-Newton.
Where is Surrey-Newton?
The riding contains Newton town centre, Strawberry Hill, Highland Creek and Kwantlen Polytechnic University's main Surrey campus within its boundaries, following 80 Avenue in the north and 64 and 68 Avenues to the south, along 144 Street to the east (142 Street between 72 and 68 avenues) and Scott Road to the west from 80 Avenue down to 68 Avenue, where it jogs east to 128 Street then south to 64 Avenue.
