Image: Honveer Singh Randhawa / B.C. Conservative Party Leader John Rustad with Surrey-Guildford candidate Honveer Singh Randhawa.
Provincial politics

Elections BC suspends probe of complaint from Fraser Valley candidate who lost by 22 votes

Jan 28, 2025 | 12:57 PM

FRASER VALLEY — Elections BC says it has suspended a review from a B.C. Conservative candidate who submitted a complaint after losing his Fraser Valley riding by 22 votes.

According to a statement Tuesday (Jan. 28), Elections BC said it received a complaint from Surrey-Guildford candidate Honveer Singh Randhawa on January 3, 2025. The complaint argued there were potential violations of the Election Act in his electoral district during the 2024 provincial election.

Roughly a week later on January 9, Elections BC confirmed that Randhawa’s complaint was being reviewed.

Four days later on January 13, Randhawa submitted a petition with the Supreme Court of British Columbia seeking a judicial declaration that the election of NDP Surrey-Guildford candidate Gary Begg was invalid. The chief electoral officer and Garry Begg were named as respondents to the judicial petition.

Elections BC says the allegations in Randhawa’s complaint to Elections BC are essentially the same as the allegations contained in the court petition. Elections BC says it is suspending a review of Randhawa’s complaint while the outcome of the petition is decided, adding that the Supreme Court of British Columbia will determine when the petition is heard.

“Upon judicial determination of the petition, Elections BC will consider whether to resume its review of Mr. Randhawa’s complaint, and whether or not further investigation is warranted,” Elections BC said.

Click here to report an error or typo in this article