VICTORIA, B.C. — Prime Minister Mark Carney brought his campaign to British Columbia on Wednesday, targeting one of Canada’s most competitive regions just days before voters head to the polls.
The province’s 43 federal ridings are expected to play a decisive role in the outcome of Monday’s election. While Carney’s Liberal Party holds a clear lead in Ontario and Quebec, British Columbia remains a tight race between the Liberals and Conservatives.
“B.C. is a lot like Ontario’s 905 region—densely populated, diverse, and politically fluid,” said Richard Johnston, a retired political science professor. “It could be the tipping point between a majority government and one that must rely on support from other parties.”
Carney addressed supporters in Victoria, a New Democratic Party (NDP) stronghold, urging voters to back his vision regardless of past political affiliations.
The Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, continue to dominate the Prairie provinces and are appealing to voters in B.C. with a tough-on-crime agenda. Poilievre, campaigning in southern Ontario on Wednesday, received the endorsement of the Toronto Police Association and announced plans to clear encampments from public spaces.
Polling released this week shows the Liberals leading nationally with 44.1% support, followed by the Conservatives at 38.5%. The NDP trails at 7.7%. In B.C., the race between the two leading parties is effectively tied, with the NDP’s slipping numbers potentially benefiting both.
Sanjay Jeram, a political science lecturer at Simon Fraser University, described B.C. as “one of the hardest provinces to read,” noting a high number of ridings remain too close to call.
Both analysts highlighted that concerns over U.S. policy, particularly tariffs and aggressive rhetoric, have also shaped voter priorities across the province and the country.
The election will determine the makeup of the 343-seat House of Commons, with the latest polls suggesting a potential Liberal majority if trends hold.
