The final list of candidates running to become the next MLA for Abbotsford-Mission has been confirmed ahead of the upcoming byelection.

The B.C. NDP has nominated Pam Alexis, who previously represented Abbotsford-Mission after being elected in 2020.

Alexis served as B.C.’s minister of agriculture and food. She is also a former mayor of Mission and has served on the boards of the Mission Chamber of Commerce and the Mission Rotary Club.

The Conservative Party of B.C. is running party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay. Findlay previously served as a Member of Parliament representing several B.C. ridings.

She also served as chief Opposition whip under Pierre Poilievre, becoming the first woman in Canadian history to hold the role for the federal Conservatives.

Findlay’s candidacy comes amid turmoil within the provincial Conservatives. Since she became leader, nine MLAs have left the party to sit as Independents or join a new political party.

The B.C. Greens have nominated Stephen Fowler, a teacher at Rick Hansen Secondary School in Abbotsford. He has previously run both provincially and federally. 

Fowler is campaigning on the party’s platform, which includes building affordable social housing, expanding fast and free public transit, and investing in community health centres to provide accessible preventative care and reduce pressure on emergency rooms.

CentreBC’s candidate is Lakhwinder Jhaj, who has previously run in elections under both the B.C. NDP and the Liberal Party of Canada banners.

“Jhaj’s political experience reflects a willingness to work across traditional party lines,” CentreBC said in a statement.

“Although she has represented different parties over the years, her focus has remained on community service, practical solutions and bringing people together. That experience is consistent with CentreBC’s approach as a broad, centrist party open to British Columbians from different political backgrounds.”

Libertarian candidate Jeff Monds is also seeking the seat. He most recently ran in the federal North Vancouver-Capilano byelection in August.

Monds previously ran as a Libertarian candidate in Delta-Richmond East in 2011, Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge-Mission in 2008, and in multiple provincial elections for the British Columbia Libertarian Party.