Janet Routledge plans to run for a third term as MLA in Burnaby North in the next B.C. election, she told the Burnaby NOW on Friday (Jan. 19).
Routledge said she has submitted her application to be nominated as the BC NDP candidate.
She said she's worked hard to connect with both party members and Burnaby North constituents.
"I feel like I have a good relationship with them, and I want to start working on some things that aren't finished yet," she said.
Routledge was first elected in May 2017 and re-elected in October 2020.
She noted her candidacy will be up to members of the BC NDP.
"Because there's a nomination process, I've submitted my application, and I'm hoping they will elect me again to be the candidate."
She noted there isn't a timeline yet for the nominations to be finalized.
Routledge said she's hoping to continue her work as chair of the Government Woman's Caucus, particularly around the rights of women who have dense breast tissue, and her work as parliamentary secretary for labour for the employment rights of precarious workers like ride-hail and delivery driver.
She said the NDP government introduced changes, supported across party lines, that ensure breast density information is shared directly with women and their health-care providers – but the work isn't finished, she added.
"We need more ultrasound machines," she said.
Routledge also responded to the news that Burnaby-Lougheed MLA Katrina Chen won't run for re-election.
Routledge said she will "regret" not having Chen as a colleague anymore.
"We will continue to work together on things like childcare and things that matter, but she will be replaced by a strong candidate."
She added the NDP can't take anything for granted in an election.
"It would be disrespectful to the voters to take anything for granted, but we're pretty strong."
Burnaby's four provincial ridings are currently all held by NDP members.
Routledge noted the coming election will see Burnaby's constituencies rise from four seats to five, which she said is a reflection of the population growth in Burnaby.
"The world is really troubled right now, and I know that for me the learning curve was significant, and I think that this is a time to be able to continue with what I've learned, and I also want to leave Burnaby North in really good shape for whoever comes behind."
Routledge won her seat in 2020 by more than 6,000 votes, beating out Liberal candidate Raymond Dong 12,894 votes to 6,846.
B.C.'s next provincial election is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.
