Friday November 8, 2024 | SOOKE, BC [Posted at 11:06 am | Updated 12:10 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
MLA-elect Dana Lajeunesse has resigned his seat on District of Sooke council, as announced today by the District of Sooke.
The swearing-in of BC NDP MLAs will take place on Tuesday November 13 (opposition MLAs will be sworn in on November 12). Cabinet ministers will be sworn in on Monday November 18.
“Dana Lajeunesse announced he is stepping down from his role as Councillor, effective immediately, following his recent election as a member of the provincial legislature,” it was stated in a District of Sooke news release this morning.
In the October 19, 2024 BC provincial general election, Lajeunesse was elected to be the MLA for Juan de Fuca-Malahat. That’s a large riding (3,116 sq km) which includes Sooke, Metchosin, East Sooke, Otter Point to Port Renfrew, Malahat, Cobble Hill, Mill Bay and Shawnigan Lake.
In-and-out on the off-schedule:
Lajeunesse has served for about five years on Sooke council.
He was elected to District of Sooke council one year after the 2018 municipal election, in a 2019 by-election. He now leaves partway through the 2022-2026 municipal term.
Grateful for support:
“I am grateful for the support and collaboration of the dedicated staff at the District, my colleagues on Council and the residents of Sooke,” said Lajeunesse. “I look forward to continuing my work for the betterment of our region in my new role.”
Lajeunesse said during his provincial election campaign that he hopes to continue work done by former MLA John Horgan who had a strong Sooke base during his years as MLA 2005-2023.
Mayor Tait’s comment:
“I am appreciative of Dana’s contribution through his role on Council since 2019. His passion and keen local knowledge and history have been a valued contribution to our community,” says Sooke Mayor Maja Tait.
“I look forward to working with him on shared priorities for our residents, including transportation, infrastructure, housing and health care. Together, I am confident our efforts will enhance the quality of life for residents in the region – working hard to better meet their needs of today while improving planning for future generations,” said Tait in a news release today.
Tait is the federal NDP candidate for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke whenever the next federal election comes along.
Stepped back during the campaign:
The BC provincial election campaign ran from September 21 to October 19, 2024.
Lajeunesse excused himself from meetings during the campaign period and requested that remuneration be stopped with the interim election results on October 19, 2024, said the District of Sooke today.
The results of election of an MLA for the Juan de Fuca-Malahat electoral area were firm on October 28, 2024. Lajeunesse won with a narrow margin over the BC Conservative candidate. He was also up against the progressive vote split that went to BC Green candidate David Evans, also long-time of Sooke.
Work on Sooke council:
During his tenure on Sooke Council, Lajeunesse filled numerous Council appointments including:
- Capital Regional District (CRD) Arts Commission
- CRD-Regional Water Supply Commission
- Juan de Fuca Water Distribution Commission
- Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL)
- Sooke Program of the Arts (SPA) Committee
- Community Economic Development Committee
- Edward Milne Community School Society
- Sooke and Electoral Area Parks and Recreation Commission (SEAPARC)
- Sooke Region Historical Society
Upcoming municipal by-election:
After Sooke Council appoints a Chief Election Officer, a day for a general voting to fill the vacant Council seat must be scheduled for a Saturday “no later than 80 days after the appointment”.
By-elections and elections are not normally held during the busy December winter holiday season.
Within the 80-day window after Council’s appointment of a Chief Electoral Officer, the first likely possible by-election date would be in February 2025.
“Council will meet in the coming days to discuss this and we will keep the community informed as more is known,” says Christina Moog, District of Sooke manager of communications and community relations.
===== RELATED:
- Many possibilities for Dana Lajeunesse as a brand new MLA (November 2, 2024)
- Dana Lajeunesse pulls it off for BC NDP in Juan de Fuca-Malahat (October 28, 2024)
- Cabinet possibilities in slim 47-seat BC NDP majority (October 28, 2024)
- Grinding through the process for final BC Election 2024 results (October 27, 2024)
- BC NDP candidates still leading in Juan de Fuca-Malahat and Surrey City Centre (October 26, 2024)
- Over 66,000 mail-in, special & absentee ballots to be counted this weekend (October 25, 2024)
- BC provincial election final count coming up Oct 28 (October 24, 2024)
- Tight race in Juan de Fuca-Malahat exposes long-time political divide (October 20, 2024)
- Fate of long-in-coming Sooke health centre in BC Election 2024 (October 18, 2024)
- Dana Lajeunesse hopes to follow in John Horgan’s local footsteps (October 12, 2024)
- Juan de Fuca-Malahat candidates face-off in Otter Point (September 29, 2024)
- Why do Sookies still complain about Highway 14? (September 15, 2024)
- BC NDP chooses Dana Lajeunesse as Juan de Fuca-Malahat candidate (July 21, 2024)
- NEWS SECTIONS: BC PROVINCIAL ELECTION 2024