Tag Archives: Jagmeet Singh

Election sees transformation of Vancouver Island representation

By Nora O’Malley, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As the dust settles from the 2025 federal election, the Liberals have retained a minority government – but amid a growing Conservative presence in Ottawa and a devasted NDP party.

Under the new leadership of Mark Carney, the April 28 vote has resulted in the Liberals earning a projected 169 seats in the House of Commons – just three shy of the representation needed to for a majority. This is more than the 153 the Liberals previously held in the last Parliament, but Conservatives saw their representation grow more markedly, increasing from the 120 seats at the last sitting of the House to a projected 144. Meanwhile the Bloc Quebecois kept 22 seats – losing 11 from the last Parliament – and the New Democrats saw their representation fall from 25 to just seven. The Green Party’s representation fell from two to one.

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Liberal Minority; the Race in North Island Powell River

The Liberal Party’s anticipated landslide failed to materialize on election night. Mark Carney has been elected Prime Minister of Canada, but up until this afternoon it was not clear that he will form a majority or minority government.

Fair Vote Canada described the results of this election as a ‘tsunami of strategic voting.’ 

On Vancouver Island

Green Party leader Elizabeth May was re-elected in Saanich–Gulf Islands and is now her party’s only remaining Member of Parliament.

Two days ago, the NDP held six ridings on Vancouver Island; after election night, only Courtenay–Alberni remains in NDP hands. 

The expected Conservative surge on the islands was weaker than what the projections had suggested. They only captured three ridings from the NDP: North Island–Powell River, Nanaimo–Ladysmith, and Cowichan–Malahat–Langford.

The Liberals won the NDP’s old southern Vancouver Island seats in Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke and Victoria.

North Island-Powell River

In North Island–Powell River, Conservative Aaron Gunn won with 31,356 votes (38.8%).

Continue reading Liberal Minority; the Race in North Island Powell River

How Aaron Gunn Riles Foes in a Coastal Riding

By Andrea Bennett, Originally published on the Tyee

It’s a packed house at the federal all-candidates meeting in Powell River, with one very notable absence: Conservative candidate Aaron Gunn.

Outside the Evergreen Theatre, campaign volunteers staff a table stacked with placards bearing Gunn’s name and face, perhaps with the idea his supporters may hold them up in the crowd, conjuring the idea of his presence.

Inside, four candidates — the NDP’s Tanille Johnston, the Green Party’s Jessica Wegg, the Liberals’ Jennifer Lash and Independent Glen Staples — answer questions about crime, the toxic drug crisis, reforming the RCMP, Israel and Palestine, and what they’d do to ensure Canada implements the recommendations emerging from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

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Poll Shows Conservatives With Marked Lead in North Island—Powell River

With just six days remaining until election day, a new poll reveals the Conservatives hold a strong lead in the North Island—Powell River riding. Among the 402 eligible voters surveyed between April 17 and April 19, 45% said they intend to vote for Conservative candidate Aaron Gunn.

NDP candidate Tanille Johnston trails in second with 23%, followed by Liberal contender Jennifer Lash at 13%. Both Jessica Wegg of the Green Party and Paul Macknight of the People’s Party received 2% support, while independent candidate Glen Staples sits at 1%. Meanwhile, 15% of voters remain undecided.

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Poilievre’s Bid to Woo the Union Vote Is Hitting Snags

By Isaac Phan Nay, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre stepped up to a podium at a campaign stop in Saint John, New Brunswick, Monday wearing a western-style blue shirt, pumped his fist in the air and asked, “Who’s ready to get building?”

Behind Poilievre stood a row of workers in hoodies and hard hats. The sign on his podium read, “Workers First for a Change.”

Poilievre’s pledges of support for new pipeline construction drew applause and cheers from members of Atlantic Canada Regional Council of Carpenters, Millwrights and Allied Workers Local 1386.

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