Share this Story: Recap: Jagmeet Singh wins the Burnaby South byelection Recap: Jagmeet Singh wins the Burnaby South byelection Singh says many Canadians are falling behind, despite working hard, and they are starting to become fearful for themselves and their children. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The results Singh has 38.7 per cent of 20,346 votes counted, enough to be declared the winner. There are 76,204 registered voters in the riding. 181 of 196 polls have been counted so far, representing 92 per cent of the vote. Singh was up against Liberal Richard T. Lee, Conservative Jay Shin, independent candidates Terry Grimwood and Valentine Wu, and People’s Party of Canada candidate Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson. In the 2015 federal election, the NDP won with 35 per cent of the vote, with the Liberals taking 33.9 per cent, the Conservatives 27.1 per cent, Greens 2.8 per cent and 1.1 per cent for the Libertarian party. Lee has 26 per cent of the votes counted so far. The right-wing vote appears to be split, with Shin so far holding 22.7 per cent of the vote and Thompson with 10.9 per cent. Thompson is the first candidate seeking a seat for former Conversative Maxime Bernier’s newly formed PPC. “Singh, Singh, Singh!” Postmedia News reporter Matt Robinson said Singh supporters broke out into spontaneous chants of “Singh, Singh, Singh”, prior to Singh taking the podium at the election night party at the Metrotown Hilton. Vancouver-Kingsway MP Don Davies has earlier taken the mic with an optimistic: “Welcome to the victory party.” Peter Julian, MP for New Westminster-Burnaby, said with voters giving Singh the seat, “they’re saying they want a fighter. They’re saying they want someone who will stand up when the government makes bad choices.” Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Jenny Kwan, a former and longtime MLA and now MP in Singh’s party, said “it’s a very exciting night. It’s one we’ve been waiting for for a long time. I know that Jag is so looking forward to going to Ottawa. “We need a voice in the House of Commons that is on the side of the people and we haven’t had that with the Liberals and not with the Conservatives.” Second place for Lee Postmedia reporter Dan Fumano was with supporters of Liberal candidate Lee at the Delta Hotel. Harjit Sajjan, the Liberal MP for Vancouver South an the Minister of National Defence, was at Lee’s event Monday night. Sajjan said he was happy to support Lee, who he described as a “humble, great person” and “I’ve had the opportunity to go door-knocking with him as well,” Sajjan told Postmedia. “His compassion that he has for his community, that’s what really, I think, sets him apart.” Photo by RICHARD LAM / PNG #BurnabySouth By-Election: People are starting to filter in now at Liberal candidate Richard T. Lee’s event, about 25 or 30 supporters here so far. pic.twitter.com/aFtjqRMLPt — Dan Fumano (@fumano) February 26, 2019 Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Vancouver Sun Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Vancouver Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of Vancouver Sun Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending<doc-sep>The Burnaby South byelection isn’t your typical byelection. When Kennedy Stewart resigned his seat to kick off a campaign that led him to the Vancouver’s chair, it set off a domino effect leading to NDP leader Jagmeet Singh packing up his life in Ontario and moving to the west coast. Singh is just a few days away from finding out if this byelection will be his ticket to the House of Commons. But winning political seats doesn’t come easy. In the NDP leader’s way stands a former long-time B.C. MLA, a political newcomer lawyer and a well-known religious television host. Let’s meet the candidates. Jagmeet Singh, NDP View image in full screen NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh proposed two new measures to help deal with the housing crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Jagmeet Singh just celebrated his 40th birthday. Now he wants to mark a new milestone, entering the House of Commons. The federal NDP leader was born in Scarborough, Ont. to parents who emigrated to Canada from India. Story continues below advertisement Singh bounced around as a child, living with his grandparents in India before moving to St. John’s, Newfoundland and then Windsor, Ontario. He earned a biology degree at the University of Western Ontario before picking up a law degree at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School in 2005. Before entering politics, Singh was a criminal defence lawyer. WATCH: NDP leader Jagmeet Singh on his parties housing plan 1:16 NDP leader Jagmeet Singh on his parties housing plan NDP leader Jagmeet Singh on his parties housing plan – Feb 20, 2019 Then, in 2011, Singh had his political breakthrough. He first ran federally, falling just 539 votes behind Conservative candidate Bal Gosal in the riding of Bramalee-Gore-Malton. Later that year he would run again in the riding, this time for a spot at Ontario’s provincial legislature. He captured the riding by 2,277 votes over the Liberal incumbent to win his spot at Queen’s Park. Story continues below advertisement After serving for nearly six years in Toronto, Singh announced plans to run for the federal NDP leadership. In October 2017, Singh swept to victory, capturing more than 50 per cent of the votes on the first ballot. Since his victory, Singh has been forced to lead the NDP from outside the House of Commons. The Burnaby South byelection will give the leader a chance to challenge Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the House of Commons. WATCH: Jagmeet Singh on the NDP’s plans to deal with the opioid crisis 0:43 Jagmeet Singh on the NDP’s plans to deal with the opioid crisis Jagmeet Singh on the NDP’s plans to deal with the opioid crisis – Feb 18, 2019 One of the first things Singh did after announcing plans to run in Burnaby South was rent a home in the riding with his wife, Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu. He has committed to making Burnaby South his political home and run in the riding in the 2019 federal election no matter what happens in the byelection. Story continues below advertisement “The issues that matter most to the people of Burnaby South are ones that really resonate with me. Housing, the housing crisis, affordability, access to medication and the environment,” Singh said. “There was a need for someone, the New Democrat leader, to stand in the house and get this government to do what is right.” Singh’s cultural identity is wrapped into his political identity. He became the first turbaned Sikh to sit at Queen’s Park and is hoping to become the first South Asian political leader to sit in the House Commons. There have been rumblings that if Singh is unable to win in Burnaby South he will quickly be ousted as the party’s leader. He doesn’t see it that way. “I can tell you that throughout my political career I have never made a decision out of fear for myself,” Singh said. “I will be the leader that runs the New Democratic Party into the next election without any doubt. “I felt an immediate connection to the riding when I visited here.” Richard T. Lee, Liberals View image in full screen Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, campaigns with Richard T. Lee, the Liberal candidate in the Burnaby South byelection, in Burnaby, B.C., on Sunday February 10, 2019. Federal byelections will be held on Feb. 25 in three vacant ridings – Burnaby South, where NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is hoping to win a seat in the House of Commons, the Ontario riding of York-Simcoe and Montreal’s Outremont. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck. For years, Richard T. Lee was a fixture in British Columbia’s legislature and he knew how to win. Lee represented the riding of Burnaby North for 16 years, winning elections in 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013. Story continues below advertisement His winning streak came to an end in 2017, falling to the NDP’s Janet Routledge as an orange wave took over Burnaby. The government captured all four of the city’s seats. WATCH (aired January 19): Former BC Liberal MLA Richard Lee named as federal Liberals’ new candidate in Burnaby South 1:39 Former BC Liberal MLA Richard Lee named as federal Liberals’ new candidate in Burnaby South Former BC Liberal MLA Richard Lee named as federal Liberals’ new candidate in Burnaby South – Jan 19, 2019 Lee is now hoping to write the next chapter of his political career in Ottawa. The 65-year-old was born in China and entered the Burnaby South byelection in a roundabout way. He was interested in seeking the Liberal’s nomination but was away during the party’s nomination meeting and didn’t throw his hat in the race. Fast forward months later and the Liberals were in trouble, having to ask candidate Karen Wang to resign after she made inappropriate comments about Singh being of ‘Indian descent’. Lee was now back in Burnaby South and was named by the party as its nominee. Story continues below advertisement “The former candidate resigned and I got the opportunity to run as the candidate. This is a good opportunity for me to continue my services,” Lee said. “I am running a really positive campaign.” Lee moved to British Columbia as a teenager and settled in Burnaby in 1986, and has lived there since. He and wife Anne have three children. Lee is quick to point out that although he lives outside the Burnaby South boundaries, one of his sons goes to school at BCIT in the riding. Before being elected to the B.C. legislature, Lee was a programmer analyst at Canada’s national particle research facility. He has a combined degree from UBC in physics and mathematics, and a Master of Sciences from UBC in applied mathematics. Neither Gordon Campbell nor Christy Clark ever tapped Lee for their provincial cabinet. But he was given a number of odd jobs for Liberal governments, including Parliamentary Secretary for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Parliamentary Secretary for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism. In his mind, Lee’s political journey came up short and a foray into federal politics is a way to continue it. Story continues below advertisement “This is my home. I want to continue to serve the community. That is why I am running and I also believe in the policies of the Liberal Party,” Lee said. “I have been here for a long time. I have been working as an MLA. I have a deep connection. Serving as an MLA I heard a lot of concerns in this area and I hope as MP I can bring those concerns to the government.” Jay Shin, Conservatives Jagmeet Singh isn’t the only lawyer in the race. After graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in human biology, Jay Shin moved on to UBC where he first earned a degree in mechanical engineering and then a law degree. Shin is now hoping to take his credentials to Ottawa as the Conservative member of parliament for Burnaby South. The corporate lawyer, focused on helping Asian firms invest in B.C., is running for elected office for the first time. Story continues below advertisement His family moved to Canada when he was young and was raised in part in Burnaby.<doc-sep>Liberal candidate Karen Wang has quit the Burnaby South byelection race over comments she posted on social media about NDP leader and candidate Jagmeet Singh. In a WeChat post reported by StarMetro Vancouver, Wang wrote that as the only Chinese candidate, she could beat Jagmeet Singh, who she noted is of "Indian descent." Singh was born in Scarborough, Ont., to parents who immigrated to Canada from Punjab state in India. "Recent online comments by Karen Wang are not aligned with the values of the Liberal Party of Canada," said a statement from the party. "The Liberal Party has a clear commitment to positive politics and support for Canadian diversity, and the same is always expected of our candidates." In a statement, Wang apologized to Singh and said her choice of words in the social media post was not well considered. "In trying to speak about my own story and the importance of people of all different backgrounds getting involved in this important byelection, I made comments online that also referenced Jagmeet Singh's cultural background." NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, left, places a sign on supporter Paul Pelletreau's lawn while door-knocking for his byelection campaign in Burnaby, B.C., on Saturday. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press) Political commentator Shachi Kurl, of the Angus Reid Institute, said Wang had little option but to resign, because her comments ran opposite to the Liberal Party's brand. "In Canada in 2019 — especially in a very ethnically diverse riding — those comments are just untenable," she said. "It's a bit of boon to Jagmeet Singh, but perhaps not the end of the world in terms of the long game for the Liberal Party." In response to Wang's resignation, Singh told CBC: "I intend to represent everyone, whether their background is Korean, Sri Lankan, Chinese, European, Japanese, South Asian, Vietnamese, African or Indigenous — anyone who calls Burnaby South their home." NDP leader and candidate Jagmeet Singh responds to Wang's resignation: 'I am concerned with divisive politics': Jagmeet Singh CBC News BC 0:53 Jagmeet Singh responds to the resignation of Liberal candidate Karen Wang in the Burnaby South byelection over racial comments that she made about the NDP leader. 0:53 The Liberal Party now has until Feb. 4 to nominate a new candidate for the Burnaby South byelection. The party's constitution also allows the leader to appoint someone. Speaking on CBC News Network's Power & Politics Wednesday evening, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said he expects the party will run another candidate. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Jan. 9 that byelections for the ridings of York–Simcoe in Ontario, Outremont in Quebec and Burnaby South in B.C. will be held Feb. 25.<doc-sep>
Send this page to someone via email OTTAWA – Jagmeet Singh’s political fate – and the fortunes of the New Democratic Party as a whole – are in the hands of voters today in a British Columbia riding. The NDP leader is running for a seat in the House of Commons in Burnaby South, one of three federal ridings holding byelections today. Many New Democrats believe it’s a do-or-die contest – that Singh cannot lead his party in this fall’s general election if he can’t get himself a seat in Parliament. READ MORE: Burnaby South byelection 2019 cheat sheet: A last-minute voter’s guide 1:32 What to watch for in Burnaby South byelection What to watch for in Burnaby South byelection – Feb 24, 2019 Singh is hoping a victory tonight will give him much-needed visibility in the Commons in the run-up to the national vote in October, and put to rest grumbling within the NDP about his underwhelming performance since being chosen leader almost 18 months ago. Story continues below advertisement But Singh’s problems go well beyond his lack of visibility on the main stage of federal politics. The former Ontario provincial politician has faced criticism about his seeming unfamiliarity with federal issues and his handling of internal caucus matters – particularly his decision to kick Saskatchewan MP Erin Weir out of caucus for alleged misconduct, which has infuriated many NDP stalwarts in the province seen as the cradle of the party. Under his leadership, the NDP has plunged to its lowest standings in public opinion polls since 2000, when it won just 13 seats. The party is mired in debt and its fundraising is sluggish. At least 11 of the 44 MPs who won seats for the party in 2015 have announced they won’t seek re-election this fall. READ MORE: What’s at stake for federal parties in Outremont byelection on Monday While many NDP eyes will be glued to Burnaby South tonight, an arguably better gauge of the party’s election-year viability will be going on in Outremont – the Montreal riding vacated last summer by Singh’s predecessor, Tom Mulcair. The riding had been a Liberal stronghold until Mulcair scored an upset in a 2007 byelection. His victory turned Outremont into a beachhead for the NDP, which helped to launch the so-called orange wave that swept the province in 2011 and boosted the party to official Opposition status for the first time in its history. While the party held onto just 16 Quebec seats in 2015, Quebec MPs still make up more than a third of the NDP caucus. Story continues below advertisement The betting among political insiders is that the Liberals will retake Outremont, which would be a welcome boost for the governing party’s morale in the midst of the SNC-Lavalin controversy – and a particularly bitter loss for the NDP. The symbolism of losing their erstwhile beachhead would only reinforce polls suggesting New Democrats are in danger of being wiped out altogether in Quebec this fall. But the blow would be softened, at least, if Singh is able to capture Burnaby South. READ MORE: Liberal turmoil a ‘gift’ for NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, expert says It’s no sure thing. The B.C. riding is not a natural home for Singh, who formerly represented Brampton in the Ontario legislature. Nor is it a safe NDP riding: New Democrat Kennedy Stewart, who resigned to become mayor of Vancouver, took the riding in 2015 with just over 600 votes more than his Liberal opponent, with the Conservative candidate not far behind. Story continues below advertisement While the byelection is thought to be a three-way race, being a party leader should give Singh an edge. The fact that the Green party has chosen not to run a candidate should also help. Moreover, the Liberals did themselves no favours by dumping their original candidate amid controversy over her suggestion that Singh being of “Indian descent” could help her win. The current Liberal contender, Richard T. Lee, could face headwinds of a different kind, created by the ongoing furor over allegations that the Prime Minister’s Office pressured former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould – who represents a nearby Vancouver riding – to halt a criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin.