Victoria

Covering the compact urban core of British Columbia's capital, the Victoria federal riding encompasses the City of Victoria, the municipality of Oak Bay, and the Cadboro Bay neighbourhood. Bounded by the waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the entrance to Victoria's Inner Harbour, the riding is one of the most densely populated on Vancouver Island.

Candidates

Murray Rankin (NDP) — A law professor at the University of Victoria specializing in environmental and administrative law, Rankin held law degrees from the University of Toronto and Harvard Law School. He won a by-election in November 2012 following the resignation of NDP MP Denise Savoie and served as the party's critic for national revenue during the 41st Parliament.

Jo-Ann Roberts (Green Party) — A veteran CBC journalist, Roberts left her position at the public broadcaster in 2014 to pursue advocacy and seek the Green Party nomination in Victoria. She ran a strong second-place campaign in a riding where the Green Party had established a substantial voter base.

Cheryl Thomas (Liberal) — An educator who taught leadership and teamwork at the University of Victoria and Royal Roads University, Thomas won the Liberal nomination but withdrew from the campaign before election day. Her name remained on the ballot.

John Rizzuti (Conservative) — Rizzuti carried the Conservative banner in a riding where the party had limited support in the urban core.

Art Lowe (Libertarian), Jordan Reichert (Animal Alliance/Environment Voters), and Saul Andersen (Independent) also stood as candidates.

About the Riding

Victoria's economy is shaped by the provincial government, whose legislature and ministries employ thousands of workers in and around the Inner Harbour. The University of Victoria, located near the riding's northeastern boundary, and Royal Roads University in neighbouring Colwood contribute to a sizeable post-secondary sector. Tourism is a major industry, with the Inner Harbour, the Royal BC Museum, and the Empress Hotel drawing visitors year-round, while the technology sector has grown around clusters of firms in downtown Victoria and nearby Saanich. Oak Bay, an affluent residential municipality with heritage homes and waterfront properties along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, lends a more conservative demographic counterweight to the progressive-leaning core of Victoria. Federal issues included environmental protection of coastal waters, particularly concerns about oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, support for the technology sector, affordable housing in a tight urban rental market, and veterans' services at the nearby Veterans Affairs office.