Surrey Central

The 1997 election campaign began with four Indo-Canadians winning nomination contests. As Surrey Central had the largest concentration of Indo-Canadians in any electoral district in Canada, speaking a second language or otherwise being able to connect with the Indo-Canadian community was an advantage.[8] Palbinder Shergill, a 31-year-old lawyer, would represent the Liberal Party, Charan Gill, a 60-year-old social worker who had unsuccessfully run in the Surrey—White Rock—South Langley during the 1988 election, would represent the New Democratic Party, and communications consultant Imtiaz Popat would represent the Green Party. Gurmant Grewal, a 39-year-old realtor, unexpectedly won the Reform Party nomination over Mike Runte and Lorna Dysart, after Grewal registered 700 new party members just before the filing deadline.[9] There was an accusation by a Reform Party member that the Sikh community had colluded to nominate Sikh candidates in all the major parties[10] and Dysart accused the Reform Party officials of being biased in favour of seeing somebody from an ethnic minority group winning the nomination.[11] At the time, the Reform Party was fighting a perception that they were oblivious to the multi-racial composition of Canadian society and struggling with an image of extremism.[12] Dysart left the Reform Party to join the Progressive Conservative Party. In reaction to several Indo-Canadians already nominated, the Progressive Conservative riding association announced it was purposefully seeking a "white candidate" to avoid further splitting the Indo-Canadian vote.[13] However, Vince Antonio, whose parents had emigrated to Canada from the Philippines, also defeated Dysart.[8] After losing the Reform Party nomination to Grewal, Mike Runte, a 48-year-old Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer registered to run as an independent candidate. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act prevented active officers from being candidates for political office and Runte was ordered by his superiors to withdraw. Runte refused the order, believing it unconstitutional, and consequently was suspended from the RCMP and faced a disciplinary tribunal.[14][15] Other candidates participating in the election included Philip McCormack for the Canadian Action Party, student Val Litwin for the Natural Law Party, lineman Gaetan Myre running as an independent, and engineering assistant Bill Stilwell, who had previously run in Surrey North during the 1988 and 1993 elections, for the Christian Heritage Party.[1] While Gurmant Grewal won the riding, the Reform Party only won 60 seats nationally and formed the official opposition to the Liberal Party who formed a majority government in the 36th Parliament.

Following the conversion of the Reform Party to the Canadian Alliance in March 2000, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien called a snap election to take place on November 27. While Grewal was expected to win re-election, Liberal Party officials believed Grewal was vulnerable.[18][19] The Liberals nominated the 48-year-old Peter Warkentin who had been the nominee in the Langley—Abbotsford electoral district during the 1997 election and in Fraser Valley West during the 1993 election, losing both times.[20] Other candidates who sought election included 20-year-old student Dan Baxter for the Progressive Conservatives,[21] executive assistant Dan Goy for the New Democratic Party, school administrator David Walters for the Green Party, and retiree Harjit Daudharia for the Communist Party. Grewal unexpectedly received a celebrity endorsement from Olympic wrestler Daniel Igali.[22] Grewal won re-election but his party again formed the official opposition to the Liberal Party who formed another majority government.

Source: votes,[1] totals,[5] and expenditures.[23]