A third candidate has entered the byelection in British Columbia’s Abbotsford-Mission riding where the leader of the provincial Conservatives is trying to win a seat.

The CentreBC party, which is not represented in the legislature, announced Lakhwinder Jhaj as its candidate in the Sept. 26 vote.

Jhaj says in a statement that she is running because she believes the community deserves someone who works hard and puts local priorities first..

She will face off against Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay, who is trying to get into the legislature after being named party leader in May, and former NDP agriculture minister Pam Alexis, who lost the seat in 2024.

The race comes as the Conservatives have seen six MLAs leave Findlay’s caucus this month to sit as independents over questions regarding her leadership and the direction she’s taking the party.

A news conference that had been scheduled for Monday with Findlay and the caucus was cancelled on Sunday.

CentreBC was founded in 2025 and frames itself as “a moderate, pragmatic option for voters tired of the NDP’s disastrous policies and the B.C. Conservative dysfunction.”

Former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Mike Bernier took over as leader earlier this year.

Bernier says in a statement that Jhaj is a “strong, community-minded candidate who understands that politics should be about serving people, listening to their concerns and getting things done,”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 30, 2026

The Canadian Press