UPDATE: Amrit Pal Singh Dhot is refuting Monday's announcement that he is backing David Eby and the BC NDP, saying the statement was not written by him and released without his approval. Read that story here.
Original story below...
BC United candidate Amrit Pal Singh Dhot has withdrawn from this fall's provincial election and endorsed BC NDP incumbent Ravi Kahlon's bid for re-election in Delta North.
The status of Dhot's candidacy has been up in the air since BC United Party (formerly BC Liberal Party) leader Kevin Falcon announced on Aug. 28 that he was suspending the party's election campaign and throwing his support behind John Rustad and the Conservative Party of BC, in the hopes of avoiding a vote split that could hand the election to the BC NDP.
BC United partially reversed course 10 days later, saying it would run "a select number of candidates" in order to keep the party name alive.
The question of whether Dhot would run as an independent, take the place of the already-announced Conservative candidate, or drop out the race was answered Monday (Sept. 9) when the NDP announced Dhot's support for the party and for Kahlon to serve a third term as MLA in Delta North.
In a statement released by the NDP Monday morning, Dhot said his decision came down to a question of values.
“I have been a BC Liberal for many years. I believe in bold and pragmatic action to make life better. I believe in a society where everyone is welcome and where the government takes action to tackle tough challenges and make life better.
"Of the candidates remaining in this race, there is only one that matches those values," Dhot said, adding the election is now a choice between Rustad and BC NPD leader David Eby.
"John Rustad has promised to cut $4.1 billion from our health care, and many of his candidates have extreme views. That’s a risk to people in North Delta, one that my neighbours and I can’t afford," he said.
"I can’t get behind that. This time, I support Ravi Kahlon, David Eby and the BC NDP team.”
Dhort said he will continue to work with Kahlon to ensure the betterment of North Delta.
"Improving our community has and will always be my priority, and I will continue to work for the people of North Delta," he said.
Kahlon said he wholeheartedly appreciates Dhot’s endorsement, noting that while they may not agree on everything, they do share the opinion that Rustad and his candidates' "extreme" views and proposed cuts to health care are "a risk to the wellbeing of people in North Delta and across the province."
"If you’re a former BC Liberal who’s feeling abandoned, and if you don’t like what you’re seeing come from Rustad and his party, if you want to build hospitals and homes instead of cancelling them, then you have a champion of the things that matter most to you: David Eby. We’re stronger together,” Kahlon said in a party press release.
With Dhot out of the race, only three candidates remain to vye for North Delta's seat in the Legislature: Kahlon, Conservative Party of BC hopeful Raj Veauli, and Manqoosh Khan with the Freedom Party of BC. All three are registered candidates with Elections BC.
To date no one else has stepped forward to run in Delta North. Candidate nominations with Elections BC close at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Meanwhile, BC United MLA Ian Paton announced last week he would now be running for re-election in Delta South under the BC Conservative banner. Until that day (Sept. 3), the Conservatives did not have a candidate running in the riding.
The only opposition to Paton's re-election bid is transportation advocate Jason McCormick, running with the BC NDP.
Voting day is on Saturday, Oct. 19.
SEE ALSO: B.C. United to run some candidates in order to keep future options alive
