Former Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson to run for Liberals in federal election​on March 24, 2025 at 2:29 am

Former Vancouver mayor and B.C. NDP MLA Gregor Robertson has been tapped by Liberal leader Mark Carney to run in the April 28 federal election.

Robertson made the announcement in a social media post on Sunday, with the 60-year-old saying he was invited to run in the newly formed federal riding of Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby by Carney, who officially launched his campaign earlier in the day.

“I’ve had the honour of leading one of Canada’s biggest cities for 10 years as mayor, when Vancouver had the strongest economy of any city in Canada, while being one of the greenest, most livable, inclusive places in the world,” Robertson said in a statement.

Among Robertson’s chief platform concerns are housing, community infrastructure and affordability.

“We need serious, proven and grounded leadership, and there is no one better prepared to lead us through this moment than Prime Minister Mark Carney,” he said.

Robertson was a member of the legislative assembly for Vancouver-Fairview for the B.C. NDP from 2005 until he resigned in 2008 to run for the mayor’s seat. Robertson announced in 2018 he would not seek a fourth term in office, making him the longest consecutive serving mayor in the city’s history.

The newly formed riding of Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby largely replaces the Vancouver South riding currently held by outgoing Liberal member of Parliament Harjit Sajjan, a cabinet minister who announced in January he is not seeking re-election.

Robertson says he had been working with the United Nations and others groups in “leading climate action on the world stage” as Global Ambassador for the Global Covenant of Mayors when Carney asked him to run.

Robertson also served as Executive Vice-President of Strategy and Partnerships for Nexii Building Solutions, a green building materials company that had a valuation of $2 billion in 2022 but had a court-approved bankruptcy sale in July of 2024.

The company had developed a building material called Nexiite and was manufacturing it in Squamish. Nexiite is a sand-based greener alternative to cement and concrete.

Public accountant Edward Wong will be running for the federal Conservatives in the new riding, while business owner Manoj Bhangu will represent the federal NDP.

— with a file from Canadian Press

mraptis@postmedia.com

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