The nomination period is officially open for the Conservative candidate for Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon and will close on April 2.
After the nominees are in, Conservative party members will choose their representative for the 2015 federal election for the new riding. The day and location of the nomination meeting will be communicated to members at a later date, according to Cory Hann, director of communications for the Conservative Party of Canada.
The riding was created in the reshaping of Canada’s electoral map, and is one of 30 new ridings across the country. The area contains the northernmost portion of Abbotsford, all of Mission, Agassiz and Harrison Hot Springs, and runs up through the Interior, north of Lillooet and Ashcroft.
There are six candidates who have announced intentions to run, including five from Abbotsford: Liv Grewal, Doris Woodman-McMillan, Korky Neufeld, Paul Redekopp and Brad Vis.
From the northernmost part of the new riding, retired Ashcroft mayor Morley H. Anderson – better known as Andy Anderson – is also seeking the Conservative nod.
The Liberal party has already selected its candidate for the upcoming election: Abbotsford businessman Jatinder (Jati) Sidhu. Art Green of Hope will run for the Green party.
The 2015 federal election is slated for October.