Cariboo—Prince George

Stretching across the central interior of British Columbia, Cariboo—Prince George encompasses a vast territory from Williams Lake in the south through Quesnel to Prince George in the north, with Vanderhoof to the west. The riding covers rugged terrain marked by boreal forests, river valleys, and the rolling rangeland of the Cariboo plateau. Prince George, the largest city in northern BC with a population of approximately 74,000, serves as the riding's urban anchor and regional services hub.

Candidates

Todd Doherty (Conservative) — A Prince George-based aviation executive, Doherty spent a decade with the Prince George Airport Authority as Director of Business Development before holding positions with Edmonton International Airport and the 2015 Canada Winter Games. He and his wife were small business owners in the region for over twenty years.

Tracy Calogheros (Liberal) — The CEO of Exploration Place, Prince George's museum and science centre, Calogheros had led the institution since 2003, overseeing a building expansion and eliminating its operating deficit. She held leadership roles with the British Columbia Museums Association and the Northern British Columbia Tourism Association.

Trent Derrick (NDP) — A small businessman based in the Cariboo—Prince George region, Derrick campaigned on the NDP platform of balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship and healthcare investment.

Sheldon Clare (Independent) — A history instructor at the College of New Caledonia in Prince George, Clare was serving as national president of Canada's National Firearms Association at the time of the election. He ran as an independent, arguing that the party system in Ottawa was broken and that the riding needed a member of Parliament who would listen to voters rather than follow a party whip.

Richard Edward Jaques (Green Party), Gordon Campbell (No Affiliation), and Adam De Kroon (Christian Heritage Party) also sought election in the riding.

About the Riding

The economy of Cariboo—Prince George is rooted in natural resources. Forestry and wood products manufacturing remain the backbone, with major sawmills and pulp mills operating in and around Prince George, Quesnel, and Williams Lake. The region is also significant cattle ranching country, with the Cariboo hosting some of the largest ranches in the province. Mining operations, including Mount Polley and other sites, contribute to the local economy.

Prince George sits at the junction of Highways 97 and 16, making it a transportation crossroads for northern BC. The University of Northern British Columbia, established in 1990, provides post-secondary education and research capacity to the region. The Prince George Airport serves as the primary air transportation hub for the northern interior.

Federal issues of local concern in 2015 included forestry policy and the mountain pine beetle epidemic's ongoing impacts on timber supply, resource development approvals, and infrastructure investment for northern communities.