BC NDP announced Wednesday that it is bringing in two women candidates in Surrey ridings vacated by veteran MLAs and Ministers Harry Bains and Bruce Ralston.  Jessie Sunner has been chosen to replace Bains in Surrey-Newton and Amna Shah will replace Ralston in Surrey City Centre. 

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

SURREY — BC NDP announced Wednesday that it is bringing in two women candidates in Surrey ridings vacated by veteran MLAs and Ministers Harry Bains and Bruce Ralston.

 Jessie Sunner has been chosen to replace Bains in Surrey-Newton and Amna Shah will replace Ralston in Surrey City Centre. 

Sunner is a trade unionist and human rights lawyer. As legal counsel for the Hospital Employees' Union, she fights for workers' rights and a stronger healthcare system every day. In addition to her legal work, she takes action as a volunteer in her community, serving as Vice-President of the Surrey Women's Centre, and sitting on the boards of the South Asian Bar Association, the BC Canadian Bar Association Human Rights Law Section, and the BC College of Social Workers, NDP said in a press release.

"As the daughter of Punjabi immigrants, I learned from a young age what it means to have a government that has the community's best interests at heart," said Sunner. "The BC NDP is fighting for us: for housing we can afford, for a stronger public healthcare system, and for money in our pockets. When John Rustad was in cabinet, his government made deep cuts. We can't afford the risk of him doing it again."

Shah, who is running in Surrey City Centre, sits on the Board of Directors of the Surrey Food Bank, and in that role led the expansion of distribution services across Surrey, ensuring that everyone can have nutritious food in a dignified environment. As the Director of Outreach and Stakeholder Relations with the BC Government Caucus, she builds relationships between government MLAs and BC's diverse communities.

"People in Surrey-City Centre need a government that will act to make our lives easier: from expanded transit, to strengthened education, to new healthcare facilities — and that's the BCNDP," said Shah. "The government which John Rustad was a part of said no to a new hospital in Surrey. We have chosen differently. The people of Surrey City Centre can count on me and the BC NDP to have their best interests at heart."

"These are impressive candidates and each one is an excellent addition to our BC NDP team," said Premier David Eby. "Jessie and Amna have all taken action to help improve the lives of people in their communities. I know that British Columbians will be able to count on them every day to fight for affordability, for housing you can afford, and for healthcare when you need it."

These two candidates are running unopposed and will be acclaimed by their BC NDP Electoral District Associations in August. Election Day is October 19.