The Conservative Party of British Columbia has named Claire Rattée as their candidate for the Skeena riding, bolstering their campaign with a candidate experienced in both business and politics.
Rattée’s legislative aspirations follow two unsuccessful bids for a seat as a federal member of Parliament with the Conservative Party of Canada.
Originally from Delta, B.C., Rattée moved to Kitimat in 2011 and soon began her career in public service as a municipal councillor from 2014 to 2018. She stepped away from local politics to run federally as the Conservative candidate for the Skeena Bulkley Valley riding in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Despite garnering the most votes in Kitimat in both elections, she finished second overall to the NDP’s Taylor Bachrach each time.
As she steps into the provincial arena, Rattée’said her top-of-mind issues right now are to build economic growth in the region, bring effective healthcare solutions to a failing system and common sense solutions to the affordability crisis.
Her party’s website underscores her fiscal acumen, citing a successful 13-year track record as a small-business owner and entrepreneur.
B.C.’s next provincial government election is scheduled for Oct. 19 this year.
No other parties have yet announced candidates for the riding.
Current Skeena MLA Ellis Ross, also from Kitimat, is not seeking reelection. The BC United party member has served the Skeena riding since 2017 but will be running in the next federal election in 2025 as the Conservative Party of Canada’s candidate for the Skeena-Bulkley Valley.