B.C. NDP pledges to help homebuyers with 40% of financing [Video]

David Eby and the BC NDP chose the Surrey-Cloverdale riding to announce another plank in the housing portion of their election campaign Wednesday morning.

The riding could prove to be a battleground as two sitting MLAs square off.

Mike Starchuk, the NDP incumbent, is up against Conservative Elenore Sturko, who held the riding of Surrey-South at the time of the writ drop.

When Sturko announced she would be defecting from BC United to the BC Conservatives, she also said she would be seeking election in the neighbouring riding.

Flanked by Surrey candidates at a Cloverdale townhouse complex, Eby promised $1.29-billion to help first time homebuyers get into the housing market if re-elected.

The plan calls for the province to finance 40 per cent of the cost of a home for middle-income earners.

It would apply to 25,000 newly constructed units and the NDP says it will partner with nonprofits, local …