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Housing, affordability, health, and public safety are top concerns for the riding.
Housing, affordability, health, and public safety are top concerns for the riding.
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Housing, affordability, health, and public safety are top concerns for the riding.
Canada is less than a week away from heading to the polls to elect members of its 45th parliament.
This election has been cast under the shadow of global affairs—particularly, the trade war and threats to Canada’s sovereignty levelled by US President Donald Trump, leading to shake ups in leadership and major swings in polling.
Current polling shows a tight contest between Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party and Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party. But with our voting system, Canadians don’t choose the county’s leader directly—instead, our focus is on our local representatives.
To better understand the politicians vying for your votes, Capital Daily asked candidates in all South Island ridings eight key questions about their agenda if elected.
From housing and affordability to public safety and environment, find out how the four Saanich-Gulf Islands candidates plan to lead.
David Beckham (Liberal Party of Canada): The lack of affordable housing in our region is putting stress not only on renters and young families, but also on businesses in our communities who are struggling to hire staff. It’s why Mark Carney has announced the largest investment in housing since the post WWII boom—to bring the dream of home ownership closer to reality for families by:
Elizabeth May* (Green Party of Canada): Housing is a human right, and our region is in crisis.
We would:
I’ll work to ensure federal land is used for affordable housing and push for investments that prioritize low-income families, youth, and Indigenous communities. We must put an end to the financialization of housing, which means eliminating Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and other speculative mechanisms that treat homes as investment vehicles rather than places to live.
Cathie Ounsted (Conservative Party of Canada): As I walk through our neighbourhoods, I see the housing crisis firsthand—young families struggling and renters making impossible choices. This isn’t just policy; it’s about our neighbours who deserve better. If elected, I’ll champion a Conservative housing strategy focused on increasing supply while making homes truly affordable. We’ll require municipalities to boost housing construction by 15% annually or face funding consequences, creating more options for everyone.
For young families dreaming of homeownership, we’ll eliminate GST on new homes up to $1.3 million, saving buyers up to $65,000 per purchase. For renters, we’ll remove GST on new purpose-built rental apartments and reimburse municipalities 50% of development charge reductions (up to $25,000 per unit), directly lowering rental costs.
I’m committed to converting underutilized federal buildings into affordable housing and unlocking government land for development, creating immediate new housing where it’s needed most. By streamlining approvals and holding bureaucrats to 60-day timelines, we’ll get housing built faster—no more years-long waits while families struggle. Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home. That’s my commitment to the residents of Saanich-Gulf Islands.
Colin Plant (New Democratic Party of Canada): We need to build more affordable homes, faster. We need to bring provinces and cities to the table to do it. And we need to protect affordability while we get it done. That’s why a New Democrat government will build 3 million new homes, including non-market and affordable housing. We would work with provinces to introduce stronger rent protections to stop renovictions and price gouging. We’d also create good jobs and faster construction with Canadian-made materials.
We’ll do this by replacing the expiring Liberal Housing Accelerator Fund with a permanent, $16 billion national housing strategy—made up of the Canadian Homes Transfer and the Communities First Fund. This plan complements previously announced commitments on national rent control, building rent-controlled homes on public land, and low-interest loans through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The plan gives cities and provinces the tools to build homes faster, protect affordable rental homes, and fight inflation for families.
David Beckham: All residents of this region deserve to feel safe in their own homes and in their own communities. As a member of Mark Carney’s Liberal government, I’ll help to build safer communities by, among other things, fully supporting the police services that keep us safe. I am proud of our Liberal plan to take action against crime and improve public safety, as we will:
Elizabeth May: True public safety means addressing root causes—poverty, trauma, housing insecurity, and lack of mental health supports. Expanding community-based crisis response teams, and investing in upstream solutions that prevent crime while ensuring our streets and roads are safe for everyone, especially vulnerable people.
Road safety is a critical part of building healthy, sustainable communities, and is woven throughout our platform. We know that the safest roads are those with fewer cars, better transit, and infrastructure that puts people first. That’s why we’ve pushed for strong investment in public transportation and active transportation, things like rail, buses, cycling lanes, and walkable streets.
I introduced Bill C-236 to give VIA Rail a proper mandate so Canadians can count on safe, reliable, and affordable passenger rail. That’s part of reducing traffic, lowering emissions, and ultimately saving lives on the road.
Cathie Ounsted: As a former member on the Central Saanich police board, I know firsthand the public safety challenges our community faces. The status quo isn’t working, and Saanich-Gulf Island residents deserve to feel safe in their neighbourhoods. If elected, I’ll fight to repeal the & “catch-and-release” laws that have enabled repeat violent offenders to return to our streets. Our community has suffered from this revolving door of justice, and I’ll work to ensure dangerous offenders face jail, not bail.
I’m committed to working with the Conservative party and police to address the organized crime that fuels auto theft and the drug trafficking that devastates families. We’ll create new aggravating factors for crime-related auto theft and impose 15-year mandatory minimums for fentanyl traffickers who prey on the vulnerable. I’ll work directly with local law enforcement and community stakeholders to develop tailored safety solutions for the CRD’s unique needs. My approach includes strengthening support for youth programs and community organizations that prevent crime before it happens.
My long-term engagement in local governance and volunteerism has shown me that effective public safety requires both firm consequences for criminals and community-based prevention strategies. Every Saanich-Gulf Island resident deserves to feel safe. That’s my commitment to you.
Colin Plant: We all deserve to live in communities where we feel safe. Here is a fundamental truth: crime often stems from unmet needs. When people struggle to find affordable housing, access healthcare, or receive support for addiction, despair can lead to desperate choices. It’s not about labelling individuals as “bad;” it’s about understanding the systemic failures that leave them vulnerable. I am committed to fighting for real solutions that address the root causes of crime.
We can’t just rely on punitive measures. Real safety comes from ensuring that everyone has access to mental health support, affordable housing, and job opportunities. Let’s create a community where every individual feels they have a future worth fighting for. When it comes to organized crime and people who are preying on our most vulnerable, we must have strong deterrents in place to ensure public safety.
Road safety is under municipal and provincial jurisdiction. We would work with our partners at all levels to ensure that we expand active transportation options for Canadians.
David Beckham: Mark Carney’s Liberal government will maintain or strengthen every part of our Canadian public health care system. This includes our new Pharmacare program that provides free contraceptives and free diabetes medication and supplies for all eligible patients, and free Dental Care for those who qualify. To fully address the flow of toxic drugs, we need to take a holistic approach to a complex challenge, beginning by stopping the flow of toxic drugs into our communities. We started this work with the biggest investment Canada has ever made in securing our border, and we’ll build on that.
We will keep investing in our law enforcement and border agents, making sure they have the resources they need to keep toxic drugs out of our communities. Canadian law enforcement services have disrupted over 40 superlabs since 2018, and with our investments, we’ll keep supporting them in this life-saving work. We’ll also invest in mental health, community supports, and addiction recovery for our most vulnerable people.
Elizabeth May: With over 50,000 lives tragically lost, over 14,000 in BC alone, we MUST treat the toxic drug crisis as the public health emergency it is. That means establishing a federally managed safer supply program, providing pharmaceutical alternatives to prevent overdose deaths, legislating full decriminalization of drug possession for personal use, replacing discretionary policies with a consistent legal framework, and wraparound support services, I will fight for a national mental health care strategy, bringing mental health fully into Medicare, and ensure that healthcare workers in our region are supported and fairly compensated.
Cathie Ounsted: As your Conservative candidate, I’m deeply concerned about health concerns facing our community, including doctor shortages and wait times, as well as the toxic drug crisis and mental health care gaps.
We’ll champion Pierre Poilievre’s comprehensive plan to tackle doctor shortages through the new “Blue Seal” national licensing standard for healthcare professionals. This will allow qualified doctors and nurses, whether trained abroad or in different provinces, to work across Canada without bureaucratic barriers. I’ll work to streamline the licensing of immigrant doctors already in Canada to quickly increase our physician workforce in Saanich-Gulf Islands.
To address the toxic drug crisis, we’ll strengthen border security to combat fentanyl trafficking while implementing the Canada Mental Health Action Plan with 6% annual increases in health transfers. Our plan includes a 25% tax credit for employers adding mental health coverage and $150 million for community mental health programs. Every resident of Saanich-Gulf Islands deserves accessible healthcare when they need it. I’ll make that my priority.
Colin Plant: Health care is at the heart of what makes Canada, Canada. But right now, people are waiting too long, we don’t have enough doctors, nurses are burning out, and care is slipping away.
The NDP will make patients safer by requiring provinces to meet nurse-to-patient ratios, guarantee fair wages, and improve working conditions, tie new federal health transfers to real hiring and retention strategies that deliver results for patients and workers.
We would work hard to end the $1.5 billion drain to private nursing agencies and reinvest in strong public health care teams—especially in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. We also need to Incentivize provinces to fast-track accreditation for internationally educated nurses so they can get to work faster and actively recruit qualified nurses from the US and fast-track their credentials so they can help fill urgent gaps in Canada’s public health care.
Families and communities continue to be devastated by the toxic drug poisoning crisis and it’s time for transparency and accountability on the government’s response. We’ve had numerous audits look at the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we’ve yet to have one on a crisis that’s taken thousands of Canadian lives.
New Democrats believe free, universal mental health care is the best future. And we’re going to move in that direction, starting with guaranteeing mental health care is covered under the Canada Health Act. We would provide additional funding to provinces and territories to improve mental health services with clear goals, accountability and transparency.
David Beckham: The Liberal government has made significant investments in the region’s transportation system, and as a member of Mark Carney’s team, I will work hard to see these contributions continue:
Elizabeth May: Sustainable transit is essential as our population grows. I support major federal investments in public transit infrastructure, regional rail, and active transportation. We need to plan smarter, building complete, connected communities that reduce our dependence on cars and protect green spaces.
The Greens would
Cathie Ounsted: As your Conservative candidate, I understand the daily frustration of CRD residents facing clogged roads, packed buses, and aging infrastructure. Our rapid growth demands immediate action on transit and infrastructure.
If elected, I’ll ensure federal infrastructure dollars flow to high-growth regions like ours by tying funding to municipalities that increase housing supply and density. This approach will support the expanded transit, water, and road systems our growing population desperately needs.
I’ll back climate-resilient projects like the Hartland Renewable Natural Gas Initiative and water system redundancy upgrades to ensure our region can meet future environmental challenges. I also support development cost charges that ensure new growth pays for needed infrastructure, helping municipalities manage rapid expansion costs.
My commitment includes advocating for federal contributions to key local priorities like the Galloping Goose and Lochside trail upgrades, water system expansions, and new recreation facilities. Most importantly, I’ll work to cut bureaucratic delays at the federal level and partner with provinces and municipalities to fast-track approvals for critical infrastructure. Projects like water supply upgrades, transit expansions, and road improvements must keep pace with our growth. The CRD deserves infrastructure that serves today’s needs while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges.
Colin Plant: As a Saanich Councillor and Chair of the CRD I have been an advocate for many active transportation initiatives for walking, cycling and other sustainable modes of transportation. Most transit and infrastructure are going to fall under provincial and municipal jurisdiction however, if the people of Saanich Gulf Islands put their trust in me, I will be their champion in Ottawa to bring federal dollars to the local tables whenever possible
David Beckham: I believe the best way to address the high cost of living is to leave more money in the pockets of Canadians. One of Mark Carney’s first actions as Prime Minister was to
cancel the national consumer carbon tax. This prompted BC to follow suit, lowering the price at the pumps in our region. Mark Carney has pledged that the Liberal government will:
Elizabeth May: The Greens will fight for a guaranteed livable income, working with Provinces & Indigenous Governments to implement. Expand and protect the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care system with long-term public funding ensuring affordable, accessible daycare for all. Expand and improve parental leave, including dedicated leave for elder care and miscarriage recovery, ensuring more flexibility and higher wage Replacement. Eliminate income tax for anyone earning $40,000 or less—putting more money in the hands of families and seniors who need it most. We would raise the federal minimum wage to $21/hr and index it to inflation and productivity growth. Establish a National Livable Wage Index to set wage floors by region based on the cost of housing, food, and essentials. Mandate living wages for all federally funded jobs, including contractors and subcontractors.
Cathie Ounsted: I hear it when I am door knocking and talking to people throughout Saanich Gulf-Islands—families struggling with grocery bills, seniors choosing between heat and medication, young people giving up on homeownership. This cost-of-living crisis isn’t just statistics—it’s community members making painful choices every day.
If elected, I’ll fight relentlessly to implement our “Bring It Home Tax Cut” reducing income taxes by 15%. This means the average worker keeps an extra $900 annually, and a dual-income family saves about $1,800. That’s real money back in your pocket. If elected the Conservative’s will eliminate the GST on new homes up to $1.3 million, potentially saving homebuyers up to $65,000 and reducing mortgage payments by about $3,000 yearly. Combined with incentives for municipalities to lower development charges, these savings could reach $100,000.
For our seniors, we’ll ensure they can earn up to $34,000 tax-free while keeping retirement age at 65. We’ll also extend RRSP savings until age 73, giving retirees more financial flexibility. The Conservatives are committed to training 350,000 new apprentices and restoring $4,000 grants, creating opportunities for young people while building the homes we desperately need.
We know that economic prosperity is the foundation of community wellbeing, and we’re committed to fighting tirelessly for policies that create meaningful job growth and higher wages so that every family in Saanich-Gulf Islands can enjoy not just financial security, but the dignity and freedom that comes with a higher standard of living. I’ll be your voice for prosperity and affordability. You deserve nothing less.
Colin Plant: My NDP colleagues and I will make your life more affordable by scrapping the GST on basics like grocery and restaurant meals, diapers, kids’ clothes, phone and internet bills and home heating. We would also put a price cap on basic essentials at the grocery store so everyone can put dinner on the table for less. The NDP delivered pharmacare, we want to expand on that by covering an additional 100 of the most common prescriptions.
New Democrats have proven that they work for everyday Canadians, and we would continue to fight for them, not billionaires. It is clear that corporate greed is driving up the costs of everything we rely on. New Democrats will get the federal government back into building the right types of housing to meet the needs of Canadians. It is crystal clear that developers and corporate landlords have no interest in making housing affordable. We need more co-ops, more subsidized and truly affordable homes and we’ll get them built.
David Beckham: As a strong proponent of solar energy, my top priority is addressing climate change while continuing to build a strong economy that creates good jobs. Under Mark Carney’s leadership, the Liberal Party is the ONLY party with a comprehensive and achievable climate change plan:
Elizabeth May: My top environmental priorities for South Island include protecting our coastal ecosystems, advancing Indigenous-led conservation efforts, transitioning to a sustainable, renewable-energy economy, and ensuring the restoration and preservation of old-growth forests. I will continue to champion serious climate action rooted in science, justice, and local stewardship. I will work to develop a national water strategy to ensure long-term protection of freshwater resources in collaboration with Indigenous and provincial governments.
Cathie Ounsted: As your Conservative candidate, my environmental priorities focus on practical stewardship that balances protection with economic reality. Saanich Gulf-Island’s unique ecosystems demand a thoughtful approach.
Water protection is my first priority. I recognize the increasing stress on our local aquifers and will work with local and provincial governments to address threats to water quality and availability. Clean, accessible water for our communities, agriculture, and industry is non-negotiable. I’ll tackle the persistent problem of derelict boats in our beautiful harbours and waterways.
I support making vessel abandonment a criminal offense with significant penalties and will enforce the “owner pays principle” so taxpayers aren’t left with cleanup costs. I’ll push for improved vessel registration and targeted federal support for high-priority removals. For contaminated sites, I’ll advocate for stable, long-term cleanup funding in partnership with provinces and municipalities. My approach includes tax incentives to encourage private sector investment in remediation, restoring land for safe use. I support climate adaptation strategies and local resilience planning that safeguard our communities from impacts without increasing costs for families or undermining economic opportunity. Environmental protection doesn’t have to come at the cost of affordability. I’ll be your voice for practical, responsible environmental stewardship.
Colin Plant: New Democrats fight for workers, not for Big Oil billionaires. Our plan will fight the climate crisis, make life more affordable and create good jobs across the country. Housing is one of the largest carbon emitters in Canada. We plan to end fossil fuel subsidies and use that money to provide energy retrofits through grants to those who want them, but can’t due to the up-front costs. We would also invest in climate adaptation and disaster preparedness.
We also want to see Canada become a clean energy superpower! We would create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs by investing in clean energy, energy efficient affordable homes, electric transit and zero-emission vehicles. I would also work with my NDP colleagues to make changes to the Port of Vancouver to reduce the amount of freighters anchoring in our waters and the amount of time they spend anchored there.
David Beckham: Most residents of southern Vancouver Island feel a close connection to our neighbours in Washington state. They are our friends. It was not Canadians who started this economic war, and we will gladly see it come to an end—but not at any cost. We will staunchly defend our economy and our sovereignty with a measured response of tariffs that do the least damage to Canadians and exert the most influence on US decision-makers. To protect Island interests we have acted swiftly to protect workers and businesses.
We’ve made it easier to access Employment Insurance supports and will use ALL proceeds from Canadian tariffs to help workers facing temporary or permanent layoffs. We will do more than help local businesses weather this storm. We see this as an opportunity to build the fastest-growing economy in the G7 by combining 13 separate economies into one single Canadian economic powerhouse, removing all federal internal trade barriers by Canada Day. This region’s vibrant technology and manufacturing sectors—from environmental start-ups in the Blue Economy to well-established enterprises—will have the resources of the $5 billion Trade Impact Program to reach new markets and navigate challenges like losses from non-payment and currency fluctuations.
In addition, $500 million in favourably priced loans is available to support businesses affected by tariffs. Businesses in the region will also welcome major new supports for apprenticeships in the skilled trades. Of importance to South Island farmers is $1 billion in new financing, available through Farm Credit Canada, to reduce financial barriers facing our agriculture and food industry. We will also be reviewing tax policies as they apply to local industries such as the hospitality sector and even smaller enterprises like local craft beer brewers, to ensure they do not fall victim to this unjust tariff war.
Elizabeth May: While maintaining a constructive and respectful relationship with our neighbours in Washington State, I will stand firm in defending Island interests by advocating for cross-border environmental protections, fair trade practices that support local jobs, and collaborative tourism strategies that respect our natural limits and Indigenous rights.
Cathie Ounsted: As your representative, I can promise you one thing: We will never be the 51st state. I’ll take a firm but practical approach to protecting Island interests in our relationship with the United States. Saanich Gulf-Island’s economic well-being depends on maintaining productive cross-border relationships while standing strong for our interests. We’ll defend our local commerce and jobs by taking a tough stance in trade talks to protect Island exports—seafood, technology, and agricultural goods—from unfair US tariffs. If the US imposes unjust trade barriers, I’ll advocate for targeted, reciprocal measures while seeking rapid resolution through negotiation, and use the funds raised from those tariffs to support businesses impacted by the trade war.
For our vital tourism sector, we’ll work with our partners locally and in Washington State, to support the flow of visitors via ferries and cruise ships that are essential to our economy. We’ll champion joint tourism marketing initiatives to grow visitor numbers. Environmental protection of our shared waters is non-negotiable. We’l prioritize cooperative stewardship of the Salish Sea and salmon runs, holding the U.S. accountable for any actions threatening our marine ecosystem. While maintaining strong security cooperation, we’ll vigorously defend Canadian sovereignty and Island interests when they’re challenged. Our relationship with our American neighbours can be both respectful and robust—I’ll make sure of it.
Colin Plant: This question comes up at nearly every door I have knocked on. I teach my students not to be bystanders when they encounter bullying and this is no different. Donald Trump is a bully, and giving in to bullies is not the solution.
New Democrats have laid out a plan for dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs and cutting off the supply of critical minerals that the US relies on. We would create a Jobs War Room that includes provinces, unions and business leaders so we can coordinate a sustained, well-organized, well-resourced outreach campaign to U.S. counterparts. We would implement a Build Canadian Buy Canadian strategy to build more of what we need here in Canada and prioritize products made by Canadian workers in public procurement.
Instead of hoping trade with the United States will normalize, it’s time to build an economy that doesn’t rely on America. This includes investing in public infrastructure, building homes, hospitals, highways and bridges with Canadian materials, using Canadian workers. New Democrats would reform EI to ensure that all workers impacted by the trade war are taken care of. The NDP will also work to ensure inter-provincial trade can be done more freely. We will support tourism initiatives to see Canadians stay in Canada and ensure that those vulnerable workers on Vancouver Island are given the supports they need to get through this difficult time.
David Beckham: As a member of Mark Carney’s Liberal government, I will put my heart into tackling the issues that are of utmost importance to the residents of Saanich-Gulf Islands—standing strong against Donald Trump, providing more housing, improving public health care, building our economy and protecting our environment.
Elizabeth May: I’m a proven voice for Saanich-Gulf Islands who knows Ottawa, has earned respect across party lines, and has fought for this riding with everything I have for over a decade. It has been the honour of my life to serve you and there’s so much more work to do, together we can make a difference!
Cathie Ounsted: Because I bring both unwavering determination and deep compassion to the fight for affordable housing, safer communities, investment in healthcare, and a thriving local economy—backed by 37 years of living here and serving the community I love.
Colin Plant: I have been a Saanich Councillor and the CRD Board chair, and I truly believe in serving the people who place their trust in me—I promise results, not speeches.
*Incumbent
