1 week Ago By CTVNews
There are 43 seats up for grabs in British Columbia in Monday’s federal election, which polls and pundits have overwhelmingly painted as two-way race between the Liberals and the Conservatives. Many B.C.
seats are considered far from safe, and two federal party leaders could be out of a job by the end of the night. Here are the latest developments. 5:05 p.
m. PDT: Vancouver Islanders enthusiastic on election day After five weeks of campaigning, eligible voters on Vancouver Island are turning out in droves to join a record 7.3 million people who took part in advance polls and have their say in Canada’s federal election.
“Every desk had somebody at it,” says Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke voter Wendy Jones. “I think everybody really wants to vote in this election, so I hope everybody does come out.” Folks at island-based polls in Victoria, Saanich and Nanaimo found the process of voting quick and smooth at their respective stations.
Federal party leaders made multiple stops on the island during the 35-day campaign period, with the Liberals and Conservatives each hoping to take advantage of poor polling for the New Democratic Party in an area that has been their stronghold in recent years. At dissolution, the NDP held 24 seats in Parliament, and 12 of them were located in B.C.
Five of the six seats on Vancouver Island in the 2021 election were won by New Democrats, with the sixth going to Green Party Co-Leader Elizabeth May. Read more: Islanders enthusiastic to vote in 45th federal election, report smooth process at polls Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca reporter, with files from CTV News Vancouver Island’s Yvonne Raymond 5 p.
m. PDT: Many B.C.
seats far from safe There are 43 seats up for grabs in British Columbia in Monday’s federal election, which polls and pundits have overwhelmingly painted as two-way race between the Liberals and the Conservatives. When Parliament dissolved, the Conservatives and Liberals each held 14 seats, the NDP had 12, the Green Party held one and one was vacant. Cratering poll numbers for the New Democrats mean many B.
C. seats are considered far from safe, and two federal party leaders could be out of a job by the end of the night. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will fight to hold onto a seat in Parliament while the party’s status hangs in the balance.
In 2021, he won Burnaby South with 40.3 per cent of the vote; second place went to the Liberals with 30.4 per cent.
Singh is running in the newly constituted Burnaby Central riding. Green Party Co-Leader Elizabeth May will be battling to keep her seat in Saanich-Gulf Islands and is the only incumbent member of her party running in 2025. In 2021, May won with 37.
6 per cent of the vote; second place went to the Conservative candidate who got 22.5 per cent. The Greens were excluded from the debates this election after the commissioner determined the party did not meet the criteria.
Advance voter turnout was strong in British Columbia, where more than 1.1 million people cast ballots, up about 35 per cent from 2021 when 813,000 people voted in advance. Voters headed to the polls Monday did so in the wake of a devastating attack on a Filipino community festival where 11 people were killed and dozens more were injured.
The tragedy prompted responses from all federal leaders, who offered condolences and adjusted their campaign plans. Lisa Steacy, CTVNewsVancouver.ca reporter, with files from The Canadian Press.
