Abbotsford-Mission byelection candidates debate transportation, agriculture and taxes

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal NewsPolitics Abbotsford-Mission byelection candidates debate transportation, agriculture and taxes Next all-candidates debate to be hosted by the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 14 Author of the article: By David Carrigg Published Sep 09, 2026 2 minute read Join the conversation Election signs for NDP candidate Pam Elexis and Conservative Party candidate Kerry-Lynne Findlay for the upcoming Abbotsford-Mission byelection at the entrance to the city of Mission on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. PHOTO BY JASON PAYNE /PNG Article content Transportation, taxes and farming were at the forefront of an all-candidates debate for the Abbotsford-Mission riding on Wednesday evening. Article content The byelection is prompted by the resignation of former B.C. Conservative MLA Reann Gasper to give her party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay a chance to win a seat in the legislature. Article content Article content In what was a civil debate, Findlay took aim at the B.C. NDP, and not at the party’s candidate and former riding MLA Pam Alexis. Article content Article content Findlay laid out her previous experiences as a lawyer, business owner and federal MP. Article content Sunrise Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content “Today, British Columbians are paying more for government but too often getting less in return,” she said. “It’s time to grow our economy, focus on delivering basic government services like health and education and spend taxpayer money responsibly.” Article content Alexis asked Findlay why nine Conservative MLAs had defected from the party since Findlay narrowly won her party’s leadership in May 2026. The party is now down to 28 MLAs from the 44 it won in the 2024 provincial election. Article content Findlay responded that there was internal division in the party. Article content “There were people within our caucus who simply did not accept the choice of the membership,” she said, adding that the remaining caucus had met on Wednesday before the debate. Article content Event moderator and SFU political scientist Hamish Telford asked the candidates, which also included CentreBC’s Lakhwinder Jhaj and Green party of B.C.’s Stephen Fowler,…