Vancouver Island voters see housing as a top issue

Vancouver Island is heading into the election with candidates from B.C.’s three main political party running in every riding, along with some independents sprinkled in.

Like much of B.C., voters on the Island — home to 15 of the province’s 93 ridings — see housing as a top concern.

BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau says a BC Greens government would support mayors from Vancouver Island who want to expand a transitional housing model called “The Village.”

Furstenau says the model aims to address the unhoused crisis by creating safe, short-term, and transitional housing for women and families in need.

Royal Roads University associate professor David Black says Vancouver Island has historically leaned toward the BC Greens and BC NDP.

“Outside of the more right-leaning areas in the mid-Island and Nanaimo area, Vancouver Island has been a safe place for the BC NDP and provincial Greens,” he said.

However, Black — who has lived on the Island for over 20 years — believes the Conservatives could pick up some seats in the North Island and Ladysmith-Oceanside ridings.

Recent polls indicate the folding of BC United has helped the Conservatives on the Island. Black says roughly three quarters of voters have gone to the Conservatives, while one quarter has gone to the NDP.

Black says early polls indicate that the Greens will hold onto Adam Olsen’s old riding, Saanich North and the Islands. Olsen will not be seeking reelection, and Greens candidate Rob Botterell is taking his place on the ballot.

Furstenau has switched from her previous riding of Cowichan Valley and is currently running in Victoria-Beacon Hill — historically an NDP stronghold.

Black points out that he thinks it is a possibility that she may lose in that riding.

“In the event she does lose… the Greens could be down to one seat and lose official party status,” he said.

With files from Charles Brockman.