Summary: A riding that has elected NDP, Liberal, and Conservative candidates over the years, Victoria is also seen as one of the Green Party’s best electoral hopes in 2015.
The Liberal candidate, Cheryl Thomas, a business consultant and university lecturer, resigned after controversial comments on social media came to light. However, because it came a day after the registration deadline, her name will remain on the ballot.
Boundaries: An urban seat in the heart of Victoria, the riding contains all of the small municipality of Victoria itself, as well Oak Bay and the Cadboro Bay neighbourhood.
Last Election: In 2011, NDP MP Denise Savoie won her fourth term in Victoria, defeating Conservative candidate Patrick Hunt by 27.2 per cent.
In a 2012 byelection to replace Savoie, NDP candidate Murray Rankin won—but Green candidate Donald Galloway was just 1,118 votes back.
History: Throughout the 20th century, Victoria elected NDP, Liberal, and Progressive Conservative candidates regularly, but it has been a solid NDP seat since 2004. Provincially, the municipality of Victoria itself usually elects NDP MLAs, while Oak Bay generally elects right-wing MLAs—but the riding of Oak Bay-Gordon Head made history in 2013 by electing Green Party candidate Andrew Weaver to the provincial legislature.
Demographics: There are just 0.7 children per household in Victoria, the third lowest number in the province. English is the primary language of 83.93 per cent of the residents, followed by 2.92 per cent speaking Chinese languages.
Candidates
Conservative: John Rizzuti, a retired school principal
NDP: Murray Rankin, MP since 2012
Liberal: Cheryl Thomas
Green: Jo-Ann Roberts, former CBC radio host
Animal Alliance Environment Voters: Jordan Reichert