Your Vote 2017

CHEK’s Comprehensive Coverage of Your Vote 2017

CHEK News will have comprehensive coverage of the 41st British Columbia election campaign both on our newscasts and online.

Two of the three party leaders — the NDP’s John Horgan and Green party leader Andrew Weaver — are from Vancouver Island and the Island is where the Greens have the best change of winning more seats. But will the Greens be able to back a pivotal breakthrough?

Are voters ready for change? Can the B.C. NDP convince voters it’s time for change?

Is the economy what matters most?

Is your life better now than it was four years ago?

These are just some of the questions we’ll be answering as we cover this contentious campaign and the battle for B.C. votes in Your Vote 2017.

Where to Vote — Advance Polls & Election Day

Election day is May 9th and advance polls are being held April 29th to 30th and May 3rd to 6th from 8 am to 8 pm.

Click here and enter your address to show the nearest polling locations

Be sure to take photo ID and your voter card, if you have one.

Election Platform Links

Vancouver Island Riding Profiles

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order (as they’ll appear on the ballot) for each riding and incumbents are noted, where applicable.

VICTORIA-BEACON HILL (riding map)

Former B.C. NDP leader Carole James is running for re-election in this historically NDP riding. The riding boundary was changed since 2013 to include Vic West, which was previously part of Esquimalt-Royal Roads. The B.C. Liberals received only 17 per cent of the vote in 2013 — their worst showing in the province.

Karen Bill – Liberal
Kalen Harris – Green Party
Carole James – NDP (incumbent)
Art Lowe – Libertarian
Jordan Reichart – Independent
David Shebib – Independent

VICTORIA-SWAN LAKE (riding map)

This riding includes Fernwood, Quadra Village and the Gorge and stretches as far north as McKenzie Avenue. Veteran Victoria politician Rob Fleming is seeking a fourth term in Victoria-Swan Lake, which is historically an NDP stronghold. Only one non-NDP MLA has been elected in this riding in the last 40 years.

David Costigane – Vancouver Island Party
Rob Fleming – NDP (incumbent)
Chris Maxwell – Green Party
Stacey Piercey – Liberal

OAK BAY-GORDON HEAD (riding map)

Green Party leader Andrew Weaver is seeking re-election in this riding, which has elected MLAs from more political parties in the modern political era than any other place in the province. The riding made history in the last election as the first B.C. Green Party seat. The riding was previously Liberal, held by cabinet minister Ida Chong, but it’s also been an NDP riding — most notably held by former NDP finance minister Elizabeth Cull.

Bryce Casavant – NDP
Alex Dutton – Liberal
Xaanja Free – 4BC Party
Andrew Weaver – Green Party (incumbent and party leader)
Jin Dong Yang-Riley – Vancouver Island Party

SAANICH SOUTH (riding map)

Saanich South is a suburban riding just north of Victoria that also includes rural properties and some farmland. Currently an NDP riding, it was a very tight race between the NDP and Liberals in the 2009 and 2005 elections. Historically, the Saanich riding was a stronghold for the Social Credit Party for decades before being divided into two ridings before the 1991 election. It’s gone to the NDP five of the last six elections (the Liberals won in 2001).

- - David Calder – Liberal
  - Andrew McLean– Libertarian
  - Mark Neufeld – Green Party
  - Richard Pattee – Vancouver Island Party
  - Lana Popham – NDP (incumbent)

SAANICH NORTH & THE ISLANDS (riding map)

This riding at the north end of the Saanich Peninsula encompasses the municipalities of Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney as well as several Gulf Islands. It was a Liberal stronghold for 22 years until the NDP’s Gary Holman narrowly took the riding in 2013 in the closest three-way election race in modern B.C. history. Only 379 votes separated the NDP, Liberals and Greens last election and the same three candidates are running again in 2017 so it promises to be a contentious contest and a race to watch.

- - Gary Holman – NDP (incumbent)
  - Adam Olsen – Green Party
  - Stephen Roberts – Liberal
  - Jordan Templeman – Independent

ESQUIMALT-METCHOSIN (riding map)

The newly-named Esquimalt-Metchosin riding (formerly Esquimalt-Royal Roads) is one of the potential wildcards in the 2017 election. The district boundaries have changed to include Metchosin and Beecher Bay to the east while Vic West is no longer part of the riding. Popular NDP MLA Maurine Karagianis is retiring so there’s no incumbent and the Liberals are running a high-profile candidate — Esquimalt mayor Barb Desjardins. The Greens, who received more than 20 per cent of the vote last time — the fourth-highest support in the province — are also pushing for a breakthrough.

- - Mitzi Dean – NDP
  - Barb Desjardins – Liberal
  - Andy Mackinnon – Green Party
  - Delmar Martay – Independent
  - Josh Steffler – Libertarian

LANGFORD- JUAN DE FUCA (riding map)

NDP leader John Horgan is seeking re-election in this riding, which used to be called Juan de Fuca. The riding no longer includes Metchosin and the Malahat. Langford has become the fastest-growing municipality in the province over the last decade and the increased population has resulted in a shrinking of the boundaries. Horgan, who dominated in the last two elections, is seeking a fourth term in office.

- - Scott Burton– Libertarian
  - John Horgan – NDP (incumbent and party leader)
  - Willie Nelson- Vancouver Island Party
  - Cathy Noel – Liberal
  - Brendan Ralphs – Green Party

COWICHAN VALLEY (riding map)

There’s a four-way race in this urban and rural riding, which is notable in the aftermath of the Shawnigan contaminated soil issue. Sonia Furstenau, one of the most outspoken critics who fought to have the soil dumping stopped, is running for the Green Party. It’s traditionally a New Democrat riding but Bill Routely, who was elected in 2013, is not seeking re-election and there was heated controversy over the NDP nomination. The party required a woman to be nominated so Ian Morrison, who’d hoped to run for the NDP, is seeking election as an Independent. The Liberals, who last won the riding in 2001, are also campaigning hard, and given that the boundaries of the district have changed and now stretch farther south, it should be an interesting race.

- - James Anderson – Libertarian
  - Sonia Furstenau – Green Party
  - Eden Haythornthwaite – Independent
  - Steve Housser – Liberal
  - Lori Iannidinardo– NDP
  - Ian Morrison– Independent

NANAIMO-NORTH COWICHAN (riding map)

A three-term B.C. NDP MLA is facing off against a four-term Alberta MLA in this riding. But despite her tenure in the Alberta legislature before retiring to the Island, Liberal candidate Alana Delong is considered the underdog. The NDP’s Doug Routely is seeking a fourth term in a riding that usually votes NDP. But the wildcard here — as is the case on much of Vancouver Island — is the Green Party

- - Alana Delong – Liberal
  - Anna Paddon – Independent
  - Doug Routley – NDP (incumbent)
  - Lia Versaevel – Green Party

NANAIMO (riding map)

Nanaimo has traditionally been an NDP stronghold with New Democrats taking 12 of the last 14 provincial elections. But the Harbour City has seen a lot of growth and transformation in recent years. Nanaimo’s no longer a mill town and as the city moves farther away from its resource-based roots, the Liberals are hoping to make a breakthrough and unseat the NDP’s Leonard Krog, who is seeking a fourth term.

- - Paris Gaudet – Liberal
  - Kathleen Harris – Green Party
  - Leonard Krog – NDP (incumbent)
  - Bill Walker – Libertarian

PARKSVILLE-QUALICUM (riding map)

Liberal cabinet minister and Paralympic medalist Michelle Stilwell is the only Liberal incumbent on Vancouver Island seeking re-election. It’s considered a safe Liberal seat given Stilwell’s high profile and the large number of seniors living in this retirement Mecca. The median age in Parksville-Qualicum is 56.4 according to the 2011 Census, the highest in the province.

- - Terry Hand – BC Refederation Party
  - Sue Powell – NDP
  - Glen Sollitt – Green Party
  - Michelle Stilwell – Liberal (incumbent)

MID ISLAND- PACIFIC RIM (riding map)

This riding was previously known as Alberni-Pacific Rim but the boundary has changed to stretch farther north and now includes Cumberland, Royston, Union Bay, Fanny Bay and Denman and Hornby Islands. The riding now has about 9,000 more residents after being the Vancouver Island riding with the smallest population in 2009. Six candidates are vying for this traditionally NDP seat, including New Democrat Scott Fraser who is hoping for a fourth term as the region’s MLA.

- - Dan Cebuliak – BC Refed Party
  - Robert Clarke – Libertarian
  - Darren DeLuca – Liberal
  - Julian Fell – Conservative
  - Scott Fraser – NDP (incumbent)
  - Alicia La Rue – Green Party

COURTENAY-COMOX (riding map)

This boundaries for this riding, which was previously named Comox Valley, have changed due to the growing population of Courtenay and Comox. The riding no longer includes Cumberland and Oyster River, which are now part of Mid Island-Pacific Rim. This is also one of only three ridings on Vancouver Island without an incumbent as Liberal cabinet minister Don McRae isn’t seeking re-election. Military veteran and former CFB Comox base commander Jim Benninger is hoping to keep the riding for the Liberals. He’s facing off against former three-term Courtenay councillor Ronna-Rae Leonard who is running for the NDP and the Green Party’s Ernie Sellentin. The Comox Valley riding has only elected Liberals since 2001 but the NDP won six of the seven elections between 1972 and 2001

Jim Benninger – Liberal
Ronna-Rae Leonard – NDP
Ernie Sellentin – Green Party
Leah McCulloch – BC Conservative Party

NORTH ISLAND (riding map)

The northernmost riding on Vancouver Island has traditionally gone to the NDP. It’s currently held by NDP ferry critic Claire Trevena, who is seeking a fourth term. However, the B.C. Liberals have come within 3,000 votes of winning the riding since 2005 and thy’re making a concerted effort to be victorious this time with Dallas Smith, former president of the Nanwakolas Council and one of three Indigenous leaders running for the party.