Fraser-Nicola field set as BC NDP choose candidate ahead of 2024 provincial election

The governing BC New Democratic Party (NDP) has its candidate for the Fraser-Nicola riding ahead of the next provincial election.

In a news release issued Sunday (July 28), the BC NDP announced Francyne Joe will carry the orange banner in the riding that consists of Hope, Lillooet, Logan Lake, Lytton and Merritt.

The BC NDP says Joe was raised in the Nicola Valley with her ranching grandparents and mom. The party says she has 20 years of frontline experience, was one of the leading voices in the fight against violence towards Indigenous women and has fought for economic development, job creation, justice, health and wellness. Joe currently works in emergency management.

With Joe receiving the NDP nomination, all four parties with official party status in the B.C. Legislative Assembly now have their candidates for the Fraser-Nicola riding.

Joe and the NDP will look to dethrone incumbent MLA Jackie Tegart with BC United, who has held the riding since 2013.

Tony Luck, who finished second in the Merritt mayoral race in 2022, is the Conservative Party of British Columbia’s candidate. Jonah Timms, who ran for the Greens of British Columbia in Fraser-Nicola in 2020, will serve as the party’s candidate again.

The 2024 B.C. general election is scheduled to take place on or before Saturday, Oct. 19.