Tuesday April 23, 2024 | SIDNEY, BC [Updated April 24, 2024]
Political news by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The federal riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands is ‘vulnerable’, say NDP organizers for the federal riding that has been held by Green MP Elizabeth May since 2011.
The federal NDP will hold a nomination meeting on Saturday April 27 for two candidate hopefuls to face-off for the opportunity to be the NDP candidate for Saanich-Gulf Islands in the next federal election.
Two contenders:
The two contenders are Devon Black (a provincial government lawyer) and Colin Plant (teacher, Saanich municipal councillor and chair of the Capital Regional District board).
- “The 2025 federal election is a pivotal one for all of us. It’s vital to take action on the issues that we all care about, like a strong social safety net – including comprehensive, universal Pharmacare and enhanced Old Age Security – so that everyone can thrive,” says Devon Black.
- “It was an honour to be encouraged by NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to seek this nomination. I am inspired by his vision for Canada and believe the NDP is the party best situated to deal with our social, economic and environmental challenges,” says Colin Plant.
Four-way race in 2025:
The next federal election is currently scheduled for October 20, 2025.
A four-way race in Saanich-Gulf Islands — with a candidate for each of the four major parties (Liberal, Conservative, NDP, and Green), might dilute or split the strong vote that May has enjoyed in the last four federal elections (2011, 2015, 2019, and 2021).
There are seven federal ridings on Vancouver Island, with six of them currently held by the NDP.
MacGregor to host meeting:
The April 27 NDP nomination meeting will be held at 2 pm at St Andrew’s Church Hall in Sidney.
The meeting will be hosted by Alistair MacGregor, MP (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford) who himself has been a long-standing federal politician (elected in 2015, 2019 and 2021) and currently serves as the NDP critic for Public Safety as well as Agriculture and food inflation.
===== RELATED:
Elizabeth May gunning for 5th term in Saanich-Gulf Islands (April 24, 2024)
Colin Plant aiming for federal NDP heights (April 9, 2024)
POLITICAL NEWS (Island Social Trends)