Doctor to run for B.C. United in Surrey-Cloverdale riding

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Surrey Memorial Hospital obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Claudine Storness-Bliss will run for the B.C. United party in the Surrey-Cloverdale riding in the next election.

The riding was won in 2020 by B.C. NDP candidate Mike Starchuk after being held by the B.C. Liberals since 2001.

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B.C. United leader Kevin Falcon held the seat from 2001 to 2013.

“I became a physician because I wanted to make life better for people,” Storness-Bliss said, in a campaign launch video.

“But increasingly, life for many is getting worse. As an OB-GYN at Surrey Memorial Hospital, I’ve seen first-hand the tragic consequences of the chronic, unaddressed challenges in our health care system. But I refuse to accept this as the new normal. I’m running as the B.C. United candidate for Surrey-Cloverdale to say no to this new normal and to fix the health care crisis and the many other challenges facing our province.”

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Falcon said B.C.’s health care system is in chaos, “with tragic outcomes and health care horror stories happening every single day.”

Storness-Bliss specializes in endometriosis, pelvic pain and complex laparoscopic surgery and is a clinical associate professor at the UBC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Specialties.

In the 2020 election, Starchuck won 52 per cent of the vote, followed by Liberal incumbent Marvin Hunt with 35 per cent. The B.C. Conservative party candidate garnered just 3.5 per cent.

However, since then the B.C. Conservatives have soared in the polls under the leadership of former B.C. Liberal MLA John Rustad, who was tossed out of the party’s caucus by leader Kevin Falcon.

The B.C. Liberals renamed the party B.C. United in April 2023.

The B.C. Conservatives have named Jody Toor is the candidate for Surrey-Cloverdale.

Starchuck says he will be running for re-election in the riding. The next provincial election is set for October 2024.

dcarrigg@postmedia.com

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