Abbotsford West

Abbotsford West was the political home of one of the most senior members of Christy Clark’s cabinet. Michael de Jong had represented the area continuously since 1994, first in the riding of Matsqui, then Abbotsford–Mount Lehman, and finally Abbotsford West after the 2009 redistribution. As Minister of Finance from 2012 onward, de Jong had tabled five consecutive balanced budgets and was one of the most experienced legislators in the province. The riding covers the western portion of Abbotsford, including residential subdivisions, commercial corridors, and parts of the agricultural hinterland.

Candidates

Michael de Jong (BC Liberal Party) — De Jong was the incumbent MLA and Minister of Finance. Before entering politics, he had served two terms as a school trustee for Abbotsford School District 34 and was a practising lawyer with his own Abbotsford firm. Over his lengthy career in the legislature, he had served in a remarkable range of cabinet portfolios including Attorney General, Minister of Health, Minister of Forests, and Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.

Preet Rai (BC NDP) — Rai was a three-term Abbotsford school trustee and a chartered accountant with deep roots in community service. He was acclaimed as the NDP candidate for Abbotsford West and brought both financial expertise and local government experience to the campaign.

Kevin Allan Eastwood (BC Green Party) — Eastwood was a grower at a native plant nursery in Aldergrove. He had studied Applied Biology in Plant and Soil Science at UBC and worked in various roles including wildland firefighter, invasive species technician, National Park wildlife technician, and acting range agrologist.

Lynn Simcox (Christian Heritage Party of B.C.) and Dave Sharkey (Libertarian) received minor shares of the vote.

Local Issues

Highway 1 widening was a defining transportation issue in the campaign. Commuters travelling between the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver faced chronic congestion, and the BC Liberal government had announced plans to widen Highway 1 through Langley. Candidates debated whether and how quickly the widening would extend eastward to Abbotsford, and whether long-term planning should accommodate future light rail in the highway corridor. Abbotsford’s mayor had been vocal about the need for the province to extend highway improvements beyond Langley.

Housing affordability was an inescapable issue in 2017. As Metro Vancouver’s real estate market pushed prices to record levels, the Fraser Valley experienced spillover demand that was driving up costs for both buyers and renters. Candidates clashed over the effectiveness of the BC Liberals’ foreign buyer tax, introduced in 2016, and whether additional measures such as a speculation tax or expanded rental housing construction were needed.

ICBC auto insurance premiums were a pocketbook issue across the province. Rates had been climbing steadily, and the BC Liberals proposed capping increases at 4.9 per cent pending an independent review. The NDP argued that mismanagement and political interference at the Crown corporation had led to unsustainable rate hikes, and promised reforms. For commuter-dependent Fraser Valley residents, ICBC costs hit particularly hard.