David Eby, B.C.'s Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing (photo courtesy of the B.C. Government / Flickr)

By Liam Verster

NDP Leadership

Sandhu throws support behind Eby for B.C. NDP leader

Aug 2, 2022 | 5:00 AM

The MLA for Vernon-Monashee has officially endorsed a candidate for the B.C. NDP leadership.

Harwinder Sandhu said she believes David Eby, B.C.’s Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing, could be a good leader for the party.

She said John Horgan was unique, has led by example and has been a good role model, but also stated that Eby shares some of the same qualities.

“[Eby] is approachable and humble, which a lot of people may not realize, and is very supportive,” Sandhu told Vernon Matters, pointing specifically to his work to fully support anti-racism initiatives and having parliamentary secretary (PS) Rachna Singh take full control of the initiatives.

“When we achieved all the work and the data, legislation and all that work was done, during caucus meetings and even in media, he never even took credit for the amount of work him and his team did behind the scenes,” said Sandhu.

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“He put PS Rachna Singh at the front and, to me, that is a big leadership quality.”

Another of Eby’s qualities Sandhu said would make him a great leader is his work ethic, pointing to work he’s been involved with to address the “ICBC dumpster fire,” launching the money laundering inquiry, and most recently working to address housing needs across the province.

As of time of publication, Eby is the sole candidate to put his name forward for the leadership role, and while Sandhu had planned to wait to see who would be on the ballot, after having several discussions with Eby about the priorities and needs for Vernon-Monashee and having him come out to have in-person meetings with Vernon City Council to discuss housing in the area, she decided to endorse the 45-year-old lawyer who represents the riding of Vancouver-Point Grey.

“[Eby] had several virtual meetings with our local politicians, municipal politicians, and when I expressed that council wanted in-person meetings, he agreed in a split second, then he made it happen just before the government caucus retreat,” said Sandhu.

“In the meeting, he generously gave council one hour, but he was very attentively listening and had a very productive conversation and he spent close to an hour and a half and again told everybody to contact him anytime.”

She added that, after seeing him work over the past few years, specifically to bring housing to the area, Sandhu said Eby would be a great leader, for not just B.C. as a whole, but for the Interior and for individual communities like Vernon.

“I think he’s got all the qualities that a true leader needs and he can take our party and maintain where Premier Horgan has taken us and lead us in the direction we need to go,” Sandhu told Vernon Matters.

With Eby receiving her endorsement, Sandhu has officially decided not to run for the leadership of the B.C. NDP.

Candidates for the B.C. NDP leadership race have until October 19 to register. The voting period will begin on November 13 and the new leader will be announced on December 3.