Surrey BC Riding Watch: Surrey North

Surrey North

Incumbent: Penny Priddy (NDP) not running again

Surrey is full of ridings with history.  This one is perhaps the most nationally recognizable, as Chuck Cadman attracted national attention when he became the focus of a non-confidence vote during the Liberal minority government prior to 2006.  At the time he was sitting as an independent after losing the Conservative nomination during the 2004 election.  His vote could have brought down the government.  After checking with his constituents, he decided to support the government.  Later, stories circulated that he was offered bribes, and there are still some questions as to whether he was offered an insurance policy for his health in return for bringing down the House, as had the government fallen and he succumbed to his cancer, his family would not have been eligible for the benefits that he could have had as an MP.  A few months later he did pass away, to the chagrin of his constituents and family who missed his stand against crime, which was the original reason he sought office.

The 2006 election saw former provincial cabinet minister, NDP Penny Priddy run for the seat and win, with the endorsement of Dona Cadman, Chuck’s widow.  This year, Dona is running as a Conservative, having apparently resolved the issues that stood between the Conservatives and her late husband.  Penny Priddy has decided not to run again.  Given the Cadman family’s name in the riding, I don’t see anyone being able to stop Dona taking her husband’s place in Parliament.  But I will keep you posted on developments.  Put this one down to an NDP loss and a Conservative gain.