Thursday April 24, 2025 | METCHOSIN, BC [Posted at 2:13 pm | Updated 2:42 pm]
Election 2025 Feature by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Ben Homer-Dixon is a new name on the political scene here on Vancouver Island. But given the positive trajectory of his campaign so far, he could become a household name in this region in the years ahead, if not nationally.
The new young Green Party candidate lives in Metchosin. He jumped this month from being a first-year university student to the federal campaign stage right into running for the Greens in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke (ESS).
Homer-Dixon is 20-years-old but sounds wise beyond his years. He is already grasping not only the party policies and regional issues but sees and acknowledges the complexities of how party campaigns are organized and rolled out. He’s been doorknocking, taking part in rallies, and has participated in a number of all candidates meetings.
Election issues:
“The current threat that America poses is something to be careful of,” he said of national scope as a federal candidate. Locally among people he meets at the doorstep he notes that not only is there reasonable fear about Canada’s sovereignty but always the mention of affordability challenges.
“Preying on fear is an immoral way to gain votes,” says Homer-Dixon, encouraging people to vote for who they think can best represent their riding and the issues of importance to all Canadians. He sees a strong trend toward strategic voting in this election due to the fear of losing Canada’s sovereignty and wanting to see a large major party form government to deal with that threat.
Environment, wealth redistribution:
The Green Party is not just about protecting the environment, as important as that is. There is a strong approach to wealth redistribution and developing a strong economy, Homer-Dixon points out.
“Contrasting voices other than Conservatives need to be heard,” he told Island Social Trends today. “We need these democratic voices,” said Homer-Dixon, otherwise wealth redistribution and reconciliation fall by the wayside he says.
Homer-Dixon notes how the larger parties — or any party that forms government — needs to deal with the broader issues of economy and foreign relations. To balance that, “we need Greens in parliament”, says Homer-Dixon.
He remarks how technology and globalization are not inherently negative but notes they have contributed to a struggle for many in the working class and middle class who have been increasingly left behind.
ESS doorstep:
At the doorstep in ESS Homer-Dixon says that “people have things to say about their priorities and things they care about”. And on the matter of affordability, voters are “locked and loaded”… everyone has a strong easily-voiced opinion on that.
He has tried to get to as many parts of the large riding as possible. The riding includes Esquimalt, Colwood, View Royal, parts of Saanich (almost to VicWest), Metchosin, Sooke and the Juan de Fuca areas, and a few First Nations.
- In the Sooke region he hears a lot at the doorstep about affordability and food security as well as climate changes and how that relates to wildfires and flooding (it’s a largely rural area where farming is active).
- In the Esquimalt area he hears about affordability and also about military spending and support for veterans (CFB Esquimalt is located there).
After this election:
After this election, Homer-Dixon says his first priority will be to get a “regular job” and find accommodation for heading into his second year of his studies at the University of Victoria in human politics and physical geography.
He will continue his focus on the natural environment, oceans and tectonics…. apt for living in a highly seismic zone by the ocean.
===== RELATED:
- Victoria business leaders connect with federal candidates on key issues (April 18, 2025)
- Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke candidates comment on Conservative pledge to cut CBC funding (April 15, 2025)
- Lopsided federal candidates debate in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke explores wide range of issues (April 13, 2025)
- Greens launch new young candidate in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke (March 27, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: GREEN PARTY | FEDERAL ELECTION 2025 | CANADA-NATIONAL | VANCOUVER ISLAND