Tight race in Victoria has Green Party looking for a big win in federal election

A Monday morning downpour fails to dampen the spirit of Green Party volunteers waving to motoristsat a busy Victoria intersection during the height of rush hour.

Their candidate Racelle Kooy is battling againstthe NDP'sLaurel Collins and the Liberals' Nikki Macdonald in a race that aUniversity of Victoria expertsays will be one to watch.

Political scientist Kim Speers says pollingin mid-August indicated the Greens and Liberals were tied for support, but more recentpolls placethe Greens neck and neck withthe NDP andthe Liberals slightly behind in popularity.

Why Green?

"We had an excellent showingin 2015, and this is the one we get to bring it home," said Kooy.

One key factor is the continuing trend of the Green Party's increasing popularity on Vancouver Island.

In thelast two federal elections, national Green Leader Elizabeth May won in the adjoining riding ofSaanich-Gulf Islands.

Then in a 2019 byelection,Paul Manly won in Nanaimo-Ladysmith.

The Victoria riding covers the capital city of B.C.,Oak Bay and a corner of the municipality of Saanich.

Oak Bay includesmost of B.C.Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver's provincial riding of Oak Bay-Gordon Head.

Green Party insiders believetheir "easiest pick up" will beVictoria.

According to political experts, one reason that may be true is the Green Party platform.

The burgeoning climate change social movement has put a lot of pressure on politicians to act sooner rather than later.

"The Greens, they are the party that focuses on environmental policy," said Speers.

"The Green Party agenda seems to be really resonating with people in this election."

The History

In the past, the riding was held by Liberal David Anderson who was elected four times until he retired from politics in 2006.

Then, theNDP's Denise Savoiefilled the seat until 2012.

When Savoieretired, Victoria constituents continued to vote NDPand electedMurray Rankin.

In the 2015 federal election, Rankin won withabout6,700 votes more than his closest opponent Green Party candidate Jo-Ann Roberts. Rankin recently left politics to chair Canada's National Security and Intelligence Review Agency(NSIRA).

Now, with no incumbent in the race, Victoria is the only Vancouver Island riding guaranteed to get a new member of parliament on October 21.

Green candidate Kooyfeelsa lot of Rankin votes will come to her.

"I've had a lot of longtime NDP supporters say one, we love Murray Rankin. It was more of a Murray Rankin vote than it was an NDP vote," said Kooy.

"Or, we're not satisfied with what's going on with the NDP whether it was provincial or federal."

The Issues

Climate change and affordable housing are top of mind with voters and politicians in the riding.

Conservative candidate Richard Caron is a chef and works two jobs. He and his flight attendant wife have two small children.

"I would lump myself in that 46 per cent of Canadians whosay at the end of the month they're$200or less away from financial insolvency," says Caron.

Liberal candidate Nikki Macdonald has spent the past decade promoting ocean and climate research.

She says people understand that theLiberal government's purchase of the Trans Mountain Pipeline was necessary to make a transition from a fossil fuel economy to a clean economy.

"We really need to take urgent action on the environment," said Macdonald.

Heading to the finish line

The NDP's candidate isLaurel Collins, a first-time Victoria city councillor.

She readily admits this election isgoing to be a closely fought race.

Collins said it's important for each of the candidates to remember, in the remaining days of the campaign, the words of her predecessor Murray Rankin.

"It's never safe and you always have to keep working right up until the last minute," said Collins."There's really no such thing as a safe seat."

Also on the ballot are candidates for the People's Party of Canada, the Communist Party of Canada, the Animal Protection Party of Canada, the Veterans Coalition Party of Canadaandone independent.