Tories reject former B.C. cabinet minister Mike de Jong as federal election candidate
De Jong served as an MLA for more than 30 years and held several ministerial positions
Mike de Jong, one of B.C.'s longest-serving MLAS, says the federal Conservative Party has rejected him as a candidate in the upcoming election.
In a statement posted to social media on Tuesday, de Jong said he had been "informally advised" of the decision Monday evening and called it disappointing.
"To be told that you're not worthy or not qualified even to be on the ballot again, it's kind of puzzling and disappointing," the politician told CBC News.
De Jong served as an MLA for the B.C. United party — formerly the B.C. Liberals— for more than 30 years.
In an interview with Gloria Macarenko, host of CBC's On The Coast, the longtime MLA said volunteers had been working on his campaign for more than a year.
"At the last minute, to be told, in a three line email: 'Application declined. Thanks for your interest. And by the way, we don't think you're qualified.' Yeah, that's a little hard to understand," he said.
De Jong has served in several ministerial positions throughout his political career, including as minister of finance, minister of health, and attorney general, among others.
He has also served as the government House leader.
The Abbotsford-area politician had announced he was seeking the federal Conservative nomination in Abbotsford-South Langley last April and said many of his policy positions aligned with those of the Tories.
"The fact that the local people, thousands of whom have articulated their support for me, won't get a chance, that their will has been overruled by a group of someone in Ottawa, is obviously disappointing enough for me and disappointing for them," he said.
CBC has contacted the Conservative Party for comment, but did not immediately hear back.
With files from On The Coast