Former Member of Parliament John Aldag has accepted the BC NDP nomination in the Langley-Abbotsford riding.
He made the official announcement in a press release on Saturday (July 20).
Aldag previously served two terms as a Liberal MP. He won the Cloverdale-Langley City riding in 2015 and was that area's MP till 2019. He went on to lose in the 2019 federal election to Conservative Tamara Jansen, before regaining his seat in 2021. He resigned from his seat on May 31, 2024.
We are excited to introduce John Aldag as the BC NDP candidate for Langley-Abbotsford. A champion for rural communities & agriculture, John previously served as MP for Cloverdale-Langley City for 7 years. Now he’s ready to represent you in the BC legislature. Welcome, @jwaldag! pic.twitter.com/jIaG2PNWUJ
— BC NDP (@bcndp) July 20, 2024
The press release states that Aldag was inspired by BC NDP leader and Premier David Eby to serve under that party's banner.
“The people of Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley have experienced a lot in the last few years, from a global pandemic to 2021’s devastating floods and the washouts of Highway 1 and Highway 7. We understand why it’s so critical to have a government that’s in your corner,” Aldag said. “The BC NDP has taken action to improve the Valley’s security and prosperity, including a $300 million investment in food security and climate resilience for food producers. The BC NDP will be in the agricultural sector’s corner.”
Aldag grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan and made Langley his home in 2005.
"In federal office, John passed bills tackling cancers related to firefighting and took on multiple complex files, from Natural Resources to Indigenous and Northern Affairs,” Eby said. “The people of Langley-Abbotsford can count on him to put that experience to work for them.”
The 2024 B.C. provincial election marks the first time that the new Langley-Abbotsford riding will be contested. Aldag joins Karen Long (BC United) and Harman Bhangu (Conservative) in the race.
The election is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19.
