Cariboo—Prince George

Cariboo—Prince George stretches across more than 131,000 square kilometres of British Columbia’s northern interior, from near Williams Lake in the south through Quesnel to the city of Prince George, and west to Vanderhoof. The riding sits on the Interior Plateau between the Coast Mountains and the Cariboo Range, with the Fraser and Nechako Rivers forming key geographic features. Prince George, with a population of roughly 89,000, serves as the riding’s urban centre and the economic hub of northern British Columbia. Smaller communities including Williams Lake, Quesnel, Wells, Burns Lake, and Fort Fraser are scattered across the vast rural landscape, along with multiple First Nations communities.

Candidates

Todd Doherty (Conservative) has represented the riding since 2015 and was seeking his fourth term. Before entering politics, Doherty had a career in the aviation and tourism sectors. In Parliament, he became known for championing mental health and suicide prevention, tabling a bill that contributed to the creation of the 9-8-8 national suicide prevention hotline.

Clinton Emslie (Liberal) was born in Durban, South Africa, and immigrated to Canada in 2016. He settled in Quesnel in 2023 after living in Ontario, and runs an immigration consulting practice and business consultancy. He holds degrees in business management and production and operations management.

Angie Bonazzo (NDP) has a healthcare background, beginning her career as a nursing assistant with Northern Health in Fort Nelson. She also volunteers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia in Prince George.

Jodie Capling (Green Party) holds a master’s degree in resource management and worked in the energy efficiency sector for a number of years. She is a yoga and movement instructor and stay-at-home parent.

Rudy Sans (People’s Party) ran on the PPC platform.

Kenneth B. Thomson (Independent) also stood as a candidate.

About the Riding

Cariboo—Prince George’s economy is built on natural resources. Forestry has been the dominant industry for generations, with Prince George home to multiple pulp mills and serving as a hub for lumber production and distribution. However, the sector has endured severe disruption over the past decade: the mountain pine beetle epidemic killed vast swaths of lodgepole pine, and a series of catastrophic wildfire seasons—particularly in 2017, 2018, and 2023—destroyed timber supply and displaced communities. Several mill closures have eliminated hundreds of jobs across the region.

Mining contributes to the economy in the southern portion of the riding, with copper and gold operations in the Williams Lake and Quesnel corridors. Agriculture, particularly cattle ranching, sustains families across the Cariboo plateau. The University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George anchors a growing education and research sector, and the city’s regional hospital is the primary healthcare facility for a catchment area spanning much of northern BC.

In 2025, the riding faced layered economic pressures. US tariff threats added uncertainty to an already struggling forestry sector heavily dependent on American markets. The cost of living—groceries, fuel, and heating in remote northern communities—was a top concern. Healthcare access remained strained, with physician shortages and long wait times affecting communities throughout the riding. Wildfire preparedness and recovery continued to weigh heavily on residents who had experienced repeated evacuations in recent years.