The 2024 election of MLA Garry Begg in Surrey-Guildford is no longer challenged in court, more than 14 months after the very close provincial vote.
Begg’s 22-vote win in the North Surrey riding — a key victory for the NDP in October 2024 — was subject of legal challenge by Conservative candidate Honveer Singh Randhawa, who alleged potential violations of the Election Act.
Randhawa’s case in B.C. Supreme Court, which focused on how mail-in ballots from the Argyll Lodge care facility were recorded, was dropped Tuesday, Dec. 23.
A judicial recount in November 2024 gave Begg the election win with 8,947 votes to Randhawa’s 8,925.
Both political sides now point fingers about how residents of the facility were unfairly treated during investigations post-election.
Randhawa, who says his legal challenge cost more than $200,000 to date, wants Elections BC to complete its investigation and recommend reforms “to better protect vulnerable voters in future elections.”
“Before the Petition,” says Aanchal Grewal, Randhawa’s lawyer, “Elections BC took the position that no violations of the Election Act had occurred in Surrey-Guildford. However, after Mr. Randhawa’s team gathered and provided detailed evidence, Elections BC later admitted that violations did occur, including serious violations regarding mail-in ballots involving a care facility in Surrey-Guildford. Mr. Randhawa’s team says bringing those violations to light and having them acknowledged was the central purpose of the Petition.”
Randhawa’s legal team says it took nearly a year before they were able to interview seniors at the care facility, where he claimed residents were coerced by staff to vote NDP.
“During those interviews,” Grewal added, “Mr. Randhawa observed significant anxiety and stress among residents, and that the passage of time had affected some of their ability to recall events surrounding their voting. Mr. Randhawa’s team came to know that some senior resident voters were unable to give evidence due to medical reasons or because they are now deceased.”
BC NDP Provincial Director Tania Jarzebiak calls Randhawa’s challenge “a futile attempt to overturn the election” in the riding.
“This process harmed vulnerable seniors, undermined confidence in our democracy, and wasted court time that would have been better spent making our streets safer,” Jarzebiak charged.
Begg said Randhawa and his team “accused care home staff of a conspiracy and needlessly dragged elderly residents through an invasive and damaging court process,” and that he should apologize to Argyll Lodge residents and staff.
With Randhawa’s court petition now discontinued, Elections BC says it will “consider its next steps in relation to Mr. Randhawa’s complaint.”
Elections BC was involved “as a neutral participant, providing factual information about electoral processes and legal interpretation of the Election Act,” the agency said in a news release.
“The court did not make any determinations about whether any of the alleged contraventions of the Election Act occurred. Elections BC remains confident that voting in the 2024 Provincial Election was free, fair, and secure. Election processes, including vote-by-mail, were administered in accordance with the Election Act and ensured that eligible voters were able to exercise their constitutional right to vote.”
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