Saanich North and the Islands

Saanich North and the Islands was one of the most closely watched ridings in the 2017 British Columbia election. The riding encompasses the municipalities of Central Saanich, North Saanich, and Sidney on the Saanich Peninsula, as well as the Southern Gulf Islands from Galiano Island southward. In 2013, the riding produced one of the tightest three-way results in modern BC history, with NDP candidate Gary Holman edging out BC Liberal Stephen Roberts by the narrowest of margins and Green candidate Adam Olsen finishing close behind. The razor-thin result set the stage for a high-stakes rematch among all three candidates in 2017.

The riding's mix of rural peninsula communities, island populations dependent on BC Ferries, and the small-town commercial centres of Sidney and Brentwood Bay gave it a character distinct from the more urban ridings of Greater Victoria to the south.

Candidates

Adam Olsen (BC Green Party) — Olsen is a member of the Tsartlip First Nation (W̱JOLEŁEŁP) and was born and raised on the Saanich Peninsula. A former two-term Central Saanich municipal councillor and small business owner, he served as interim leader of the BC Green Party from 2013 to 2015. His candidacy was historic: he would become the first Indigenous Green Party member elected to a legislature in North America.

Gary Holman (BC NDP) — Holman was the incumbent MLA, having won the seat in 2013 by the narrowest of margins. A consulting economist by profession, he had spent over twenty-five years working on projects including the Nisga'a Treaty and a Protected Areas Strategy for BC. Before entering provincial politics, Holman served six years as Salt Spring Island's Capital Regional District Director, where he helped establish the island's first public transit system.

Stephen P. Roberts (BC Liberal Party) — Roberts was making his third consecutive run in the riding for the BC Liberals. A former banking executive, he had served as chief operating officer in the investment research divisions of Merrill Lynch, ING, and Citibank. He finished a close second in 2013.

Jordan Templeman (Independent) — Templeman was a political science student at Camosun College and member of the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve who ran to bring awareness to issues affecting young people. He campaigned on a minimal budget, hoping to inspire other young people to get involved in politics.

Local Issues

BC Ferries service and fares were among the most pressing concerns for residents of the Gulf Islands portion of the riding. Island communities depended entirely on ferry connections for travel to medical appointments, shopping, and employment on the Saanich Peninsula and in Victoria. Fare increases during the BC Liberal government's term had placed a growing burden on islanders, and all major candidates acknowledged the need for more affordable and reliable ferry service.

Health care access was a significant concern across the riding, particularly for aging populations on the Gulf Islands and in North Saanich. The Lady Minto Gulf Islands Hospital on Salt Spring Island served a wide catchment area, but residents of smaller islands often faced long journeys involving multiple ferry connections to access specialist care in Victoria or Vancouver.

Environmental protection and land use were central themes in a riding that included significant agricultural land, marine ecosystems, and the traditional territories of the W̱SANEĆ peoples. Debates over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, protection of the Southern Resident killer whale population in the Salish Sea, and preservation of the Agricultural Land Reserve all featured in the campaign discourse. The strong environmental consciousness of the riding's electorate was a key factor in the Green Party's competitiveness.