B.C. Liberal candidate Ben Stewart cast his ballot in the 91大黄鸭 West byelection Wednesday, saying he feels confident he can win back the riding he represented between 2009 and 2013 but gave up to former Liberal leader leader Christy Clark.
鈥淚鈥檓 feeling great,鈥� said Stewart after voting in West 91大黄鸭. 鈥淚鈥檓 encouraged by the advance polls. The voter turnout for the byelection seems very positive.鈥�
Just over 6,000 votes were cast in the six days of advance voting last week. There are an estimated 46,000 voters in the riding that includes West 91大黄鸭 and the downtown area of 91大黄鸭.
The Capital News has reached out to all five candidates in the byelection and will post stories through the day as we hear back from the candidates. Polls close at 8 p.m. You will also find the results on our web site as soon as they are available as well as reaction.
Related: 91大黄鸭 West voters head to the polls
Related: It鈥檚 byelection day in 91大黄鸭 West
Stewart said many voters he talked to during the campaign in the 91大黄鸭 portion of the riding don鈥檛 realize they are in the same riding as West 91大黄鸭.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a bit of a concern for me, but it鈥檚 an issue for Elections B.C. (to address),鈥� he said.
In terms of issues raised by voters, Stewart said because of the accelerated rate of growth in the economy, affordability has been impacted here.
鈥淧eople trying to find a place鈥攅ven trying to find a lot, let alone a house for sale鈥攖hat鈥檚 one of the concerns I鈥檝e heard a bit and I think government has a role to play,鈥� he said.
The recently announced boycott of B.C. wine by the Alberta government may also have played a role in the byelection, according to Stewart, calling it one of the few tools Alberta Premier Rachel Notley had to strike back at B.C. for the current NDP government鈥檚 position on the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline.
He said the project has been approved, went through a decade of review and now the B.C. government wants to review it and 鈥渃hange the rules.鈥�
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 the problem,鈥� said Stewart.
Opponents of the pipeline, including the NDP and the B.C. Green Party claim the process used to approve the pipeline plan was flawed.
Voting will remain open until 8 p.m. with the result of the byelection expected to be known around 8:30 p.m.
For information about voting, such a polling place locations and voting qualifications, go to .
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