Ahead of multiple planned protests outside the event, the provincial NDP announced its fundraiser in Surrey has been postponed due to timing.
Set to be held at the Aria Convention Centre Sunday evening, the night was billed as an “evening gala” with Premier David Eby and the rest of the BC NDP caucus in attendance.
Following the announcement of the event, multiple protest groups, including pro-Palestinian groups, Keep the RCMP in Surrey advocates and anti-SOGI 123 protesters, posted plans on social media to picket outside the event.
The pro-Palestinian protesters stated they planned to demonstrate and call for Post-Secondary Education Minister Selina Robinson to resign over her controversial comments about Gaza. However, they later announced they had cancelled their protest due to the presence of the anti-SOGI protesters.
According to Heather Libby of the BC NDP, the reason for the cancellation was timing.
“We heard from the community that it is not the time for a celebratory event,” she said in a statement to CityNews. “We have some work to do. We look forward to rescheduling the event soon. “
Tickets sales from the event would have gone towards funding campaigns for NDP candidates in Surrey in the upcoming provincial election.