Delta South

Delta South had been one of the more unusual ridings in British Columbia politics. Since its creation in 1991 it had been a safe BC Liberal seat, until independent candidate Vicki Huntington stunned the political establishment in 2009 by defeating cabinet minister Wally Oppal by just 32 votes. Huntington won re-election comfortably in 2013, becoming the sole independent member of the legislature. In January 2017, she announced she would not seek a third term, citing personal and health reasons. Her departure was expected to return the riding to the BC Liberals, but Huntington's endorsement of independent candidate Nicholas Wong added an unpredictable element to the race.

Candidates

Ian Paton (BC Liberal Party) — Paton was a third-generation farmer who had lived in Delta all his life, operating a dairy farm and farm auction business in Ladner for over 30 years. He held a bachelor's degree from the University of British Columbia and had been elected as a Delta councillor in 2010, where he chaired the Agricultural Advisory Committee and the Dikes and Drainage Committee. He was also a volunteer firefighter and community volunteer with organizations including the Delta Hospital Foundation and the Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust. He won the Liberal nomination over Jim Cessford, Delta's former police chief.

Nicholas Wong (Independent) — Wong was a 26-year-old Delta native and Simon Fraser University graduate with a degree in philosophy who worked in software development and project management. He had run for Delta city council in 2014 and was involved with the community group that campaigned for better surgical services at Delta Hospital. He had Vicki Huntington's endorsement.

Bruce Reid (BC NDP) — Reid was a Tsawwassen resident, Delta school board trustee, and teacher and school counsellor in the Richmond School District.

Larry Colero (BC Green Party) — Colero was an instructor in corporate ethics and policy advisor to the Institute of Advanced Financial Planners. He had previously run as a federal Green candidate in South Surrey-White Rock.

Errol Edmund Sherley of the BC Action Party also ran but received minimal support.

Local Issues

The proposed replacement of the George Massey Tunnel was the most prominent local infrastructure issue. The BC Liberal government under Christy Clark had announced plans for a ten-lane tolled bridge to replace the aging tunnel connecting Delta to Richmond, with preloading work already underway on Deas Island. The project was controversial locally, with debates over the toll structure, the impact on farmland, and whether a bridge or an upgraded tunnel would better serve the community.

The DeltaPort expansion at the Roberts Bank container terminal was another significant concern. Proposed expansion of port capacity raised questions about truck traffic through residential areas, rail noise, environmental impacts on the Fraser River estuary, and the effect on the Tsawwassen First Nation's treaty lands and fishing rights.

Agriculture was central to Delta South's identity. The riding contained some of the most productive farmland in British Columbia, and protecting Agricultural Land Reserve parcels from development was a persistent concern. Delta farmers worried about the cumulative impact of infrastructure projects, industrial expansion, and urban growth on the viability of farming in the region. Housing affordability, particularly for younger residents, was also emerging as a concern even in traditionally more affordable South Delta.