The government has very few seats across BC and despite growing pressure around the party, the liberal government house leader says standing united and strong will help sway votes in the province.
Karina Gould, who was at the recent caucus retreat in Nanaimo, acknowledges the lack of party representation across Western Canada, and concedes securing seats could pose a problem, but not if they continue to deliver results on top of what has already been put forward.
“It’s really about focusing on where Canadians are, and what their needs are,” Gould says. “Times are tough, interest rates have had a huge impact and so has inflation.
“That’s part of the reason why the programs we deliver are so important because they’re helping deal with the high cost of everything right now.”
According to a Vancouver Island University expert Dr. Michael MacKenzie, there is no momentum from the party at this time, and with only one liberal MP elected in the region but there is still no clear direction if this is an election ploy, especially with the other parties gaining traction in the area.
Gould says there was no intention of pushing a political agenda across Vancouver Island, but they’re not afraid to relay their agenda alongside the other parties if an early election is called.
“The conservatives are putting forward cuts, cutting back on social programs meaningful to everyone, and we’re looking to support and protect Canadians.”
However, conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre says the liberal agenda doesn’t provide people on the island the chance to be supportive, instead it’ll further devastate the economy not just locally but provincially and across the country.
“Increase spending, and the economy will grind to a halt,” Poilievre says. “Lowering costs, like eliminating the carbon tax will help boom the economy by an extra $25 billion.
“That means more wages, jobs, businesses, more affordable food, that is the choice everyone will have to make in the next election.
According to 338Canada polling, as of Sept. 15, the liberals fell another three per cent in the polls, while the conservatives have gained four per cent.
If an election is held today, projections indicate the conservatives are forecasted to win a majority government, with a liberal opposition followed by the Bloc Quebecois, and then the NDP.
