Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA Lisa Beare has announced her intention to run for the BC NDP for a third term in the coming provincial election.
The former Air Transat flight attendant and School District 42 trustee was first elected in 2017, when she defeated then B.C. Liberal MLA Doug Bing. She won again in 2020, defeating her only competitor in Liberal Cheryl Ashlie.
Beare was named to cabinet, and serves as the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. She also served as the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport and deputy house leader.
“Lisa has been an outstanding minister, and an excellent representative for the people of her constituency,” said Premier David Eby after the candidate confirmed she was running again in a June 17 announcement. “The people of Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows can count on her to continue to take action on the issues that matter to them.”
Beare grew up in Maple Ridge and is raising her daughter Brinley in the community. Announcing her intention to run again, Beare said she knows the challenges that families face first-hand, and is determined to make life easier for them.
“As a mother, I know how important it is to invest in the services that families in Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows rely on like building new schools and increasing access to heath care...” said Beare. “Our BC NDP government is taking action on the issues that matter to people in this community, and I’m proud to be running to continue that work.”
Beare graduated from Thomas Haney Secondary, and has a diploma in local government management from the University of Victoria. She served as president of local chapters of the 99s International Organization of Women Pilots and Women in Aviation, and was vice president of the CUPE Local 4078 union chapter.
The B.C. election is scheduled for Oct. 19. It should be called on Writ Day, Sept. 21, with candidate nominations closing on Sept. 28.
To date, no other political parties – BC United, Conservative, Green Party or any of the others – have announced candidates for the riding Beare holds, nor Maple Ridge East, which is a seat held by the NDP's Bob D'Eith.