Highly contested B.C. ridings could flip, play major role in election outcome: political scientist

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Election campaigning is already at a fever pitch, and while most of the party leaders are currently rallying votes out east, they’re also expected to invest significant time on the ground in British Columbia.

There are quite a few ridings in the province that could play a major role in determining who becomes the prime minister. According to Hamish Telford, a political science professor at the University of the Fraser Valley, ridings north of the Fraser, around Maple Ridge and through to Mission will be key to winning on Oct. 21.

He says those ridings normally vote Conservative, but flipped to the Liberals four years ago.

“How will they go this time? Will they revert back to the Conservatives or will the Liberals be able to hold onto them? If the Liberals can hold onto them, then they may be able to do better in the election than we would otherwise think,” Telford says.

And many eyes are on the ridings the Liberals are trying to flip this year, including Vancouver-Kingsway, a longtime NDP seat the party is hoping to win with a former TV broadcaster.

“If they’re able to flip what is normally a fairly strong NDP riding, that tells us something about the overall national strength of the party.”

B.C. is also home to NDP leader Jagmeet Singh’s Burnaby-South riding. Telford says whether or not he can hold onto it may be an indication of how the party is doing across the country.

He adds voters will also be paying attention to what happens to now-independent Jody Wilson-Raybould after her scandal-ridden departure from the Liberal party this year.

“I think a lot of people are interested in Vancouver Granville, where Wilson-Raybould is the Member of Parliament, to see if she can hold onto that seat.”