Retiring Conservative MP Ed Fast endorses Independent Abbotsford-South Langley candidate

Abbotsford-South Langley candidate Mike de Jong, who is running as an Independent, has received an endorsement from retiring federal Conservative MP Ed Fast, who represented a riding in Abbotsford for more than 18 years.

Fast, who was first elected as the member of Parliament for Abbotsford in 2006, announced last year he would be stepping down from federal politics.

Shortly after, de Jong, who won eight terms in the B.C. legislature with B.C. United  — formerly known as the B.C. Liberal Party — and held cabinet posts, including finance and forestry, announced plans to seek the Conservative Party of Canada nomination for the newly-formed riding of Abbotsford-South Langley.

Early last month, de Jong was "informally advised" that he had been rejected as the Conservative candidate for the riding. The party instead chose Sukhman Gill, a 25-year-old Langley businessman who was raised on his parent's blueberry farm in Langley, according to his website. 

Fast described the party's move as "profoundly dishonest."

"The way the party backroom operators acted to steal democracy from the good people of Abbotsford and Langley is unconscionable," he told CBC's The Early Edition host Stephen Quinn Tuesday morning. 

He said he still supports the election of a Conservative government, but does not support Gill as his successor. 

In a news release, de Jong said he's honoured to have Fast's endorsement.

"Ed Fast has served this community with integrity and conviction," he said. "He leaves huge shoes to fill and, if the people of Abbotsford-South Langley select me to succeed him as their MP, I will do my very best to honour the legacy of integrity and principled public service he leaves."

WATCH | Mike de Jong to run as Independent:

Former B.C. Liberal Mike de Jong announces he will run as an Independent

25 days ago

Duration 2:23

Former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Mike de Jong is going solo in the federal election after being rejected by the Conservative Party. He's running as an independent in the Fraser Valley, and as Katie DeRosa reports, he's one of several former politicians who were passed over by the Tories.

Fast said voters in the riding will have two conservative-leaning candidates to choose from on April 28. 

"I know which one I would choose, and I'm pretty sure I know which one the people of Abbotsford-[South] Langley will choose," he said.

CBC News has contacted the Conservative Party for comment, but has not received a response. 

LISTEN | Ed Fast endorses Mike de Jong:

The Early Edition7:10Ed Fast backing Mike de Jong

Outgoing Abbotsford Conservative MP Ed Fast is endorsing former B.C. United and B.C. Liberal MLA, cabinet minister and independent candidate Mike de Jong in the Abbotsford-South Langley riding. Fast talks to Stephen Quinn about why he's backing De Jong instead of the party's Conservative candidate, 25-year-old Sukhman Singh Gill.