(Part 2 of 2)
In the conclusion of a series about Canada’s MOU with Alberta, four local leaders delve deeper into specific issues: the pipeline itself; whether Canada needs British Columbia’s support; the proposed lifting of BC’s tanker moratorium; and an Angus Reid poll suggesting a slim majority of British Columbians may be in favour of the MOU.
Continue reading MOU with Alberta: The Poll, Pipeline, Tanker Traffic and Global Temperature RiseSee: Liberal Budget survives Non-confidence vote
Monday November 17, 2025 – Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is expected to face another non-confidence motion today. This will be the third non-confidence motion this month, which the opposition parties have made in regard to the 2025 budget. In this morning’s interview, Jennifer Lash, the liberal candidate for this riding during the last election, explains why the budget is good for North Island Powell River, and why it’s good for climate action.
Continue reading What did the 2025 Budget Mean for North Island Powell River?
By Rochelle Baker and Sonal Gupta, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Controversial Conservative candidate Aaron Gunn ended his successful campaign the same way he started it: by keeping his whereabouts secret and avoiding questions from the media.
Gunn, whose inflammatory social media history drew national attention and widespread calls for his removal as candidate, was elected in North Island-Powell River with 39% of the vote. He flipped the riding, defeating NDP candidate Tanille Johnston, who garnered 33% of the vote. Liberal Jennifer Lash carried 26% and Green Jessica Wegg drew 2%.
Continue reading Split vote lifted Gunn to victory despite controversy
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.
Continue reading Election sees transformation of Vancouver Island representation
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.’
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.
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
