Victoria-Beacon Hill

Victoria-Beacon Hill is an urban riding in the provincial capital that includes the James Bay neighbourhood, the Inner Harbour, the legislative precinct, and the iconic Beacon Hill Park. The riding has a high concentration of government workers, university students, and seniors, giving it a strong progressive orientation. Carole James had held the seat since 2005 and had served as leader of the BC NDP from 2003 to 2010, leading the party through two general elections before stepping down amid a caucus revolt. After her resignation as leader, she continued to represent the riding as a backbencher and served as the NDP's finance critic in the 40th Parliament, making her one of the most experienced members of the caucus heading into the 2017 election.

Candidates

Carole James (BC NDP) — Born in England and raised in Saskatchewan and Victoria, James is of Métis heritage. Before entering provincial politics, she served on the Greater Victoria School Board beginning in 1990 and held the presidency of the BC School Trustees Association for five consecutive terms starting in 1995. She also served as vice-president of the Canadian School Boards Association.

Kalen Harris (BC Green Party) — Harris was an entrepreneur and the owner of Shatterbox Coffee Bar in downtown Victoria. He held a political science degree from the University of Victoria and ran an energetic campaign that reflected the Green Party's growing strength in the capital region.

Karen Bill (BC Liberal Party) — Bill was a longtime legislative staffer for Liberal MLAs and cabinet ministers who had served as an executive assistant to the Minister of Aboriginal Relations. She had previously run in the riding in 2013.

Other candidates included Art Lowe (Libertarian), Jordan Reichert (Independent), and David Shebib (Independent).

Local Issues

Homelessness and the opioid crisis were deeply felt in Victoria-Beacon Hill during the 2013–2017 term. The provincial capital saw a notable increase in visible homelessness, with encampments appearing in public spaces including areas near Beacon Hill Park. The fentanyl crisis, which prompted a province-wide public health emergency declaration in April 2016, was devastating communities across the capital region, and residents called for more treatment beds, supportive housing, and harm reduction services funded at the provincial level.

Housing affordability was increasingly acute in Victoria. Home prices in the riding had risen dramatically between 2013 and 2017, putting homeownership further out of reach for younger residents and adding pressure to the rental market. Victoria's vacancy rate was among the lowest in Canada, and residents expressed frustration that the provincial government had not taken stronger action on rent regulation and the construction of non-market housing.

As the riding that encompasses the legislative precinct, Victoria-Beacon Hill's residents had a particular stake in the quality and accessibility of public services. The BC Liberal government's fiscal restraint policies had affected staffing levels in the provincial public service, and local government workers raised concerns about the erosion of services and the adequacy of compensation in a city where the cost of living was rising faster than wages.