Retiring Conservative MP Ed Fast endorses Independent Abbotsford-South Langley candidate

6 day_ago 8

British Columbia·New

In aboriginal March, Mike de Jong was "informally advised" that helium had been rejected arsenic the Conservative campaigner for the recently created riding of Abbotsford-South Langley. The enactment alternatively chose to tally Sukhman Gill, a 25-year-old Langley blueberry farmer, and de Jong announced helium would beryllium moving arsenic an Independent.

Fast captious of determination to take Sukhman Gill arsenic Conservative campaigner for caller riding

Courtney Dickson · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 15, 2025 3:26 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 minutes ago

Abbotsford-South Langley campaigner Mike de Jong, who is running arsenic an Independent, has received an endorsement from retiring national Conservative MP Ed Fast, who represented a riding successful Abbotsford for much than 18 years.

Fast, who was archetypal elected arsenic the member of Parliament for Abbotsford in 2006, announced past twelvemonth helium would beryllium stepping down from national politics.

Shortly after, de Jong, who won 8 presumption successful the B.C. legislature with B.C. United — formerly known arsenic the B.C. Liberal Party — and held furniture posts, including concern and forestry, announced plans to seek the Conservative Party of Canada information for the newly-formed riding of Abbotsford-South Langley.

Early past month, de Jong was "informally advised" that helium had been rejected arsenic the Conservative campaigner for the riding. The enactment alternatively chose Sukhman Gill, a 25-year-old Langley businessman who was raised connected his parent's blueberry workplace successful Langley, according to his website.

Fast described the party's determination arsenic "profoundly dishonest."

"The mode the enactment backroom operators acted to bargain ideology from the bully radical of Abbotsford and Langley is unconscionable," helium told CBC's The Early Edition host Stephen Quinn Tuesday morning.

He said helium inactive supports the predetermination of a Conservative government, but does not enactment Gill arsenic his successor.

In a property release, de Jong said he's honoured to person Fast's endorsement.

"Ed Fast has served this assemblage with integrity and conviction," helium said. "He leaves immense shoes to capable and, if the radical of Abbotsford-South Langley prime maine to win him arsenic their MP, I volition bash my precise champion to honour the bequest of integrity and principled nationalist work helium leaves."

WATCH | Mike de Jong to tally arsenic Independent:

Former B.C. Liberal Mike de Jong announces helium volition tally arsenic an Independent

Former B.C. Liberal furniture curate Mike de Jong is going solo successful the national predetermination aft being rejected by the Conservative Party. He's moving arsenic an autarkic successful the Fraser Valley, and arsenic Katie DeRosa reports, he's 1 of respective erstwhile politicians who were passed implicit by the Tories.

Fast said voters successful the riding volition person 2 conservative-leaning candidates to take from connected April 28.

"I cognize which 1 I would choose, and I'm beauteous definite I cognize which 1 the radical of Abbotsford-[South] Langley volition choose," helium said.

CBC News has contacted the Conservative Party for comment, but has not received a response.

LISTEN | Ed Fast endorses Mike de Jong:

The Early Edition7:10Ed Fast backing Mike de Jong

Outgoing Abbotsford Conservative MP Ed Fast is endorsing erstwhile B.C. United and B.C. Liberal MLA, furniture curate and autarkic campaigner Mike de Jong successful the Abbotsford-South Langley riding. Fast talks to Stephen Quinn astir wherefore he's backing De Jong alternatively of the party's Conservative candidate, 25-year-old Sukhman Singh Gill.