The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) has rejected an appeal from Mike de Jong of a decision earlier this week to oust him from the party鈥檚 nomination race in Abbotsford-South 91原创.

De Jong posted on social medial on Thursday (March 6) that he had submitted a formal appeal to the party鈥檚 national council, and it had been denied.

He posted the party鈥檚 response, which affirmed its decision to decline his application seeking the local riding鈥檚 nomination to be their candidate in the next federal election.

The party鈥檚 response referenced section 3 of the Conservative Party of Canada鈥檚 rules and procedures for candidate nominations.

鈥淭he decision to decline your application to contest the nomination is required to be communicated 鈥榳ithout reasons,鈥� 鈥� stated Jeremy Liedtke, the CPC鈥檚 director of political operations, in his emailed response.

De Jong was first informed on Monday night (March 3) that his application to seek the nomination had been denied.

He told The Abbotsford News that in a phone call to the party鈥檚 headquarters in Ottawa, he was given only a vague reason for the decision 鈥� that he was 鈥渘ot qualified.鈥�

In his most recent social media post, de Jong expressed frustration at being given only 12 hours to prepare submissions from the time he formally submitted the appeal Wednesday evening until the party鈥檚 meeting to review the matter on Thursday morning.

鈥淪uffice to say it is difficult to make meaningful submissions when the rationale for the decision being appealed is being entirely withheld from you except for the claim that I am unqualified for the position of MP,鈥� he stated.

De Jong said he felt 鈥渃ompelled鈥� to appeal the decision after having signed up more than 2,000 members and campaigning for almost a year.

鈥淎fter more than three decades of public service, I have nothing to hide, and I believe that my supporters and the people of Abbotsford-South 91原创 are entitled to know the reasons behind this decision,鈥� he stated.

De Jong, 60, served as the Abbotsford West MLA under BC United (formerly the Liberals) for 30 years.

He announced in February 2024 that he was retiring from provincial politics. In mid-April, he confirmed he would seek the federal Conservative nomination for the Abbotsford-South 91原创 riding being vacated by retiring long-time MP Ed Fast.

He said during his years in provincial politics, he has been 鈥渟ubject to more public scrutiny and disclosure requirements than almost any other person in British Columbia.鈥�

鈥淵et, despite my record of transparency, service and integrity, no specific reason for my disqualification has been provided except for my claim that I was not qualified 鈥� This process has been deeply disappointing 鈥︹��

De Jong has not indicated whether he will pursue another avenue for the federal election, such as running as an independent.

The nomination vote for Abbotsford-South 91原创 takes place this Saturday, March 8.

Five others are still in the running: Shanjeelin Dwivedi, Mike Murray, Steve Schafer, Sukhman Singh Gill and Gurnoor Sidhu.

The federal election must take place this year in October, but is expected to be called sooner than that.