VICTORIA — Premier David Eby says he plans to set the dates today for byelections in two vacant British Columbia ridings.

He says residents in Greater Victoria’s Langford-Juan de Fuca riding and those in the Vancouver-Mount Pleasant constituency are in urgent need of representation.

The Langford riding was held by former premier John Horgan before he retired earlier this year and, before leaving her seat in March, former New Democrat cabinet minister Melanie Mark represented Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, which includes part of that city’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood.

Eby said Friday he wanted the two new MLAs to be elected before the legislature resumes sitting in early October.

The premier, however, ruled out a late summer campaign, saying voters are usually looking to relax and spend time with their families in late July and August.

Eby visited the Langford-Juan de Fuca riding earlier this week, walking along the community’s main street in a campaign-style stop at local shops with New Democrat candidate Ravi Parmar.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2023.

The Canadian Press