Nechako Lakes: candidates in the 2026 BC election
3 candidates are on the ballot in Nechako Lakes for the provincial election on Saturday, October 24, 2026. They are listed by last name.
Answer 16 short questions to see which party, and which of these candidates, is closest to your views. Available in 9 languages.
Take the quizCandidates
Diane Black
BC Conservatives
Vanderhoof-born accountant with an MBA, from a multi-generation farm family. Has held a senior finance role at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. No prior elected office.
Jesse Gervais
BC NDP
Fraser Lake municipal administrator (community services, deputy corporate officer). Sits on the UNBC board of governors and the Fraser Lake Community Foundation; has held Metis Nation elected office.
Sources: BC NDP candidate page, Omineca Express
Clint Lambert
Unaffiliated
Burns Lake Southside rancher and business owner. Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako director for Electoral Area E since 2018; president of the Lakes District Cattlemen's Association.
Sources: Caledonia Courier, Elections BC candidate report PDF (Oct 12, 2026)
Candidate list from Elections BC, as of October 18, 2026.
About the riding
Nechako Lakes takes in Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, Burns Lake, Houston, Fraser Lake, Granisle, Endako, Fort Fraser, Southside (Francois and Ootsa lakes).
In 2024, John Rustad (BC Conservatives) won here by 4,684 votes, 40.2 points.
John Rustad (MLA, Conservative) was removed as party leader on Dec 3, 2025, was removed from the Conservative caucus on Sept 18, 2026 and rejoined on Sept 21, 2026. He announced he will not run again; the seat is open and no sitting MLA is on the ballot.
Questions for North and Cariboo
Everyone answers 13 province-wide questions. Voters in North and Cariboo also get these 3:
- Northern mills, including Prince George's Northwood pulp mill, are closing, and companies cite fibre supply. How should the harvest be set?
- Kitimat's gas export plant is doubling, and more plants, mines and a power line are proposed. How should the province decide on them?
- Emergency rooms in Fort St. James, Chetwynd, Hudson's Hope and 100 Mile House keep closing for lack of staff. What comes first?
How and when to vote
- Voting day
- Saturday, October 24, 2026, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific time.
- Advance voting
- Friday October 16 to Wednesday October 21, 2026, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Not every location is open every day; check yours.
- Where
- Find advance and election-day locations with the voting-place lookup on elections.bc.ca. District electoral offices also take voters until 4 p.m. on October 24. The October 17 municipal election is a separate vote with its own locations.
- Who can vote
- Canadian citizen, 18 or older on October 24, 2026, and a BC resident since April 23, 2026.
- By mail
- Request a vote-by-mail package online or by phone (1-800-661-8683) by October 18. Elections BC must receive it by 8 p.m. Pacific time on October 24 for it to be counted. If you are not registered or your voter information is out of date, prove your identity and address by uploading ID to Elections BC's ID upload system or by including photocopies of your ID with the returned package.
From Elections BC: ways to vote, vote by mail, 2026 provincial election key dates, who can vote, voter ID, Elections BC home.