B.C. Conservative MLA candidate's name to appear on Burnaby civic election ballot | Daily Hive

B.C. Conservative MLA candidate's name to also appear on Burnaby civic election ballot

David Xie (second from the right). (New Burnaby)

David Xie says he is no longer pursuing a seat on Burnaby City Council, but his name will still be on this month’s civic election ballot.

He previously entered the municipal race under the New Burnaby civic party and is now also the Conservative Party of British Columbia’s confirmed MLA candidate for the riding of Burnaby South-Metrotown in this month’s provincial general election.

Daily Hive Urbanized asked Xie today about his plans for the two separate elections. As of today, his name is still listed on the City of Burnaby’s official candidates list for City Council.

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“Nobody anticipated David Eby calling a cynical, opportunistic election two years early,” he wrote in an email in response to Daily Hive Urbanized.

“While it is unfortunately too late to be removed from the municipal ballot, I can confirm that I am no longer seeking a seat on City Council.”

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Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s resignation from her role as the Conservative leader and the snap provincial election call by Premier David Eby have rapidly reshaped B.C.’s political landscape over the past week and a half. Lorne Doerkson has taken over as interim Conservative leader, while municipal and provincial politicians have been reassessing whether to seek municipal or provincial office and which party to represent. Some incumbents have also been considering whether to seek any re-election, such as a handful of high-profile BC NDP cabinet ministers choosing not to.

Today, Thursday, Oct. 1, Burnaby Citizens Association (BCA) civic party had called on Xie and New Burnaby to clarify his intentions before advance voting begins this Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Further advance voting opportunities are scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 10. The civic general election day is on Saturday, Oct. 17, while the provincial general election day is on Saturday, Oct. 24.

The provincial government’s new Eligibility to Hold Public Office Act, which took effect in May 2025, prevents someone from serving as both an MLA and an elected municipal official, such as a mayor, city councillor, School Board trustee, and Park Board commissioner.

Although Xie says it is too late to remove his name from the municipal ballot, provincial processes appear to provide a case-by-case basis consideration for withdrawing after the regular deadline. However, as of the time of writing, Thursday evening, that could present some major logistical challenges (such as already-printed ballot forms), as such a move would come just one day before the start of advance voting in Burnaby’s civic election on Saturday morning.

The City of Burnaby’s election office’s candidate withdrawal deadline was Sept. 18, but the provincial government can approve a later withdrawal before election officials remove a candidate’s name.

That process was used for the City of White Rock, where incumbent Mayor Megan Knight had also shifted from seeking municipal re-election to running for the Conservatives in the riding of Surrey South.

Knight confirmed and announced her pivot to seeking provincial office on Friday, Sept. 25. On Monday, Sept. 28, White Rock’s municipal government confirmed that the provincial government had approved her withdrawal. As a result, only two mayoral candidates will now appear on the ballot.

The Conservatives confirmed and announced Xie as their Burnaby South-Metrotown candidate just yesterday, Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Without Xie, New Burnaby is now running five candidates for City Council and one candidate for School Board. The party does not have a mayoral candidate.

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