Liberals win in New Westminster-Burnaby-Maillardville, flip NDP stronghold

Liberal Jake Sawatzky topped the polls in the redrawn riding of New Westminster-Burnaby-Maillardville.

Sawatzky garnered 34.9 percent of the vote, besting longtime NDP incumbent Peter Julian, who finished with 31.7 percent. Conservative candidate Indy Panchi finished just behind Julian with 31.4 percent.

In an election where the popular vote was largely split between the Liberals and Conservatives, New Westminster-Burnaby-Maillardville was a rare three-way race, with 98 percent of the vote going to the top three candidates.

Speaking to the New Westminster Record, Sawatzky cited housing, mental health, and the rising cost of living as key issues. Noting his background in neuroscience, Sawatzky also discussed mental health and addiction as “deeply personal causes.”

Julian cruised to victory in 2021, finishing with more than twice as many votes as his closest Liberal challenger.

To accommodate population growth, the riding boundaries were redrawn to incorporate Maillardville.

At press time more than 99 percent of ballots had been counted.

All vote totals are unofficial until certified by Elections Canada.