B.C. Conservatives to Hold News Conference Alleging Election Irregularities in Surrey-Guildford Recount

The B.C. Conservative Party has scheduled a news conference on Thursday to address concerns over the 2024 provincial election, specifically regarding the recount in the Surrey-Guildford riding.

The party's leader, John Rustad, and Surrey-Guildford candidate Honveer Singh Randhawa are expected to present what they claim are findings about alleged "election irregularities."

The riding was a critical battleground in the election, with B.C. NDP candidate Garry Begg narrowly defeating Randhawa by just 22 votes, securing the NDP's one-seat majority in the legislature.

“Democracy is a delicate structure … and if we do not have confidence in our democratic processes, we are in serious trouble,” Rustad said in November, while asserting he was not disputing the election outcome at the time.

Recount Process and Allegations

The razor-thin margin in Surrey-Guildford triggered a judicial recount, which confirmed the final result:

• Garry Begg (B.C. NDP): 8,947 votes

• Honveer Singh Randhawa (B.C. Conservatives): 8,925 votes

The recount was overseen by Justice Kevin Loo of the B.C. Supreme Court and involved scrutiny from all parties.

Elections B.C. faced criticism during the recount process due to errors, including uncounted ballots discovered in Surrey-Guildford and another riding, Prince George-Mackenzie.

While Rustad previously acknowledged faith in Elections B.C.’s transparency during the recount, he has since criticized the institution for “severely undermining public trust” due to administrative mistakes.

Elections B.C. Responds

Elections B.C. confirmed it received a complaint from Randhawa on Jan. 3, 2025, and stated the matter is under review.

“We are unable to provide further information at this time,” a spokesperson said, noting that no prior details about the Conservatives’ planned news conference had been shared.

Chief Electoral Officer Anton Boegman defended the agency's process in November and announced an internal review to address errors and "identify key lessons learned."

Impact on Public Confidence

Rustad's comments have emphasized the need for transparency to maintain voter confidence in the electoral process.

The B.C. NDP has proposed forming an all-party committee to review Elections B.C.'s performance, while Rustad has called for an independent review instead.

The news conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. PT on Thursday. Elections B.C. and the NDP have not provided further comments ahead of the event.