It didn’t take long for the NDP to find a candidate to replace retiring Burnaby-Deer Lake MLA Kathy Corrigan. In fact, it took only about a week.
On Sunday, the party made it official, acclaiming current city councillor Anne Kang as the candidate in the riding.
The school teacher and three-time councillor said she decided to make the jump to provincial politics when she heard Corrigan was retiring. After a discussion with her family, Kang was in.
“I want to make sure there was someone else who would be able to represent Burnaby the way she (Corrigan) would,” she told the NOW, adding she also has the support from her fellow council colleagues.
Though a provincial election is still a year away, there are some issues Kang plans to focus on, mainly health care and education.
She said she had both her children at Burnaby Hospital but argued that with an increasing population in the city and the facility’s age, it’s in need of upgrading and reinvestment.
Kang also wants to tackle education funding.
“With these cutbacks, it’s really hurting the kids who need special supports at school,” she said.
Kang currently teaches music and suggested arts programs are first to get cut, arguing these programs give confidence and motivation to kids who are struggling in the classroom.
Last month, Corrigan, a two-term MLA, told the NOW she was prompted to retire from politics in part because of back problems and the potential to spend more time with her family. She will be staying on until the next election.
The NDP took the Burnaby-Deer Lake riding in 2013 by more than 900 votes over the Liberals.
While the riding has gone NDP the last elections, the party has failed to make a breakthrough and form government.
Kang said she has a lot of confidence in NDP leader John Horgan and the party’s chances in 2017.
“I think he’s a great leader,” she said.
Kang will continue to serve as a city councillor, but if successful, she would have step down, potentially triggering a municipal byelection for the open seat.
She was first elected to city council in 2008.
Kang does have one challenger in the race.
Burnaby resident Elias Ishak announced he’s running as an independent in the constituency.
He told the NOW he wanted to run because none of the main parties will address the more “controversial” issues.
The issues he listed off include abolishing the monarchy and ICBC, and legalizing the sale of raw milk. He said if elected he would also introduce a bill restricting how many and what kinds of properties non-citizens can buy.
Ishak, 23, said Kang has an advantage being part of a party but added he wouldn’t run if he didn’t think he had a chance to win.
“A lot of people are becoming disillusioned with the party system,” he said.
Ishak ran in the last school board election in 2014, picking up 5,511 votes but finishing last.
