Wednesday April 2, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC [Updated April 3, 2025]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Vibrant young Laurel Collins is seeking a third term as the NDP member of parliament for Victoria. She was first elected in 2019 and again in 2021.
Collins has been the NDP Critic for Environment and Climate Change, Deputy Critic for Infrastructure and Communities, and Deputy Whip of the NDP Caucus.
Collins is a mom of two young daughters, with tons of support from her husband and grandparents for her political work as an MP. It’s a family commitment to embracing the mission of serving Canadians both here on south Vancouver Island and across the country. Her husband James took paternity leave when each of their two daughters were born.
Collins is keen to meet people on the door step throughout the riding that includes all income levels and age demographics in Victoria, Oak Bay, some areas of Saanich and also the Gorge waterway area and part of Esquimalt.
She is aware that many people are living on low wages or fixed incomes. There are also a lot of military serving members and veterans in the riding.
“Folks know our track record,” said Collins last week in an interview with Island Social Trends.
She’s referring to the powerful role that the NDP has played in the House of Commons in the last two parliaments by bringing forward progressive ideas for supporting Canadians and helping various programs get established for Canadians.
The dental plan for children and low-income seniors (now also for all adults without dental plan coverage) and the beginnings of Pharmacare coverage for certain pharmaceuticals are among two of the advancements for the overall well-being of Canadians that the NDP can claim among their successes.
“The NDP takes on corporate greed,” says Collins — something that the Liberals and Conservatives won’t do, she says. In the last few years the NDP notably addressed corporate profiteering in the grocery sector. In the next parliament they want to see price caps on grocery basics and restrictions on real estate investment trusts (REITs) to help restrain rent increases.
The 2025 NDP federal election campaign is focusing on support for workers, affordability, families and seniors. Collins wants to see more affordable housing built with the support of federal funds and use of federal land (such as the site of former military barracks at Blanshard and Bay Streets in Victoria).
She proudly reminds people that it’s the NDP MPs in the House of Commons who for decades have supported everyday Canadians, in fact all Canadians — when it comes in particular to universal health care.
NDP Leader Tommy Douglas used his party’s influence in the House of Commons to bring in universal health care, a hallmark of the Canadian lifestyle that makes living in this country quite different from, for example, the United States.
In recent weeks, Collins has joined NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh at a few media announcements in Greater Victoria and at her office opening in a ground-level office space at 2622 Douglas Street. Earlier this week Singh, Collins and a few other south Vancouver Island NDP candidates swarmed a section of James Bay at Menzies, Toronto and Simcoe Streets. The team brings a cheerful upbeat energy with plenty of orange signage.
The campaign continues through to the April 28 election day. The Laurel Collins team of supporters is out door-knocking, making phone calls, setting up signage, and helping out at the campaign office.
On the ballot:
Collins is the only woman candidate running for the Victoria federal seat. The list of candidates for the Victoria riding is:
- Laurel Collins (NDP) – incumbent
- Michael Doherty (Green)
- Will Greaves (Liberal)
- David Mohr (PPC)
- Angus Ross (Conservative)
The 45th General Election is on Monday April 28 (advance voting April 18 to 21).
Collins will turn 41 in May. She hopes to be celebrating her next birthday as a re-elected MP.
===== RELATED:
- Second federal campaign visit by NDP Leader on south Vancouver Island (March 31, 2025)
- NDP proposes CMHC-issued homebuyer loans among suite of new economic directions (March 30, 2025)
- Jagmeet Singh launches NDP campaign in Ottawa (March 23, 2025)
- Carney announces that 45th federal election is underway (March 23, 2025)
- Liberal Leader Mark Carney to run in Ottawa-area riding (March 22, 2025)
- Fielding federal candidates in 343 ridings across the country (March 22, 2025)
- 45th federal election to be held on April 28 (March 22, 2025)
- Jagmeet Singh launches south Vancouver Island NDP campaign office (March 13, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTION 2025 | CANADA-NATIONAL | CANADA-USA | COUNCIL OF THE FEDERATION
NEWS SECTIONS: CANADA-NATIONAL | CANADA-USA | CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTION 2025 | FEDERAL NDP