B.C. Green Leader Emily Lowan said Wednesday she is running in Saanich North and the Islands in this fall’s provincial election, after incumbent MLA Rob Botterell announced he will not seek re-election in the riding.
Botterell said he had mixed emotions about the decision but had always planned to serve only one term after he was elected with the Greens in 2024. He said Premier David Eby’s decision to call an early election has shortened that term by two years.
“When I ran for office, I made a personal commitment to be the MLA for a four year term. Eby upended all that with an irresponsible, reckless decision to call an election in the middle of a trade war,” he said.
Lowan, a Victoria native, said she spent a lot of time in Saanich North and the Islands while growing up. She said protecting the area’s coastline is important to her, citing concerns about a potential new oil pipeline route from Alberta to the West Coast.
Lowan, 26, is credited with helping revive youth membership in the Greens through her social media presence and youth-oriented messaging. She acknowledged the riding’s demographics tend to skew older than her key audience.
“This is a community with a lot of retirees and seniors, and I think…a lot of people who are looking out for their grandkids,” said Lowan. “People who want to provide, to leave a legacy, a strong climate and safe future for their children and for their grandchildren, so that’s been a real point of connection for me in this riding.”
The Greens have held the riding since 2017, when Adam Olsen was elected. Olsen held the seat until 2024 but decided not to seek a third term.
The Greens won two seats in the 2024 election, giving them third-party status in the legislature.
Jeremy Valeriote said he is running for re-election in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky.
Lowan said the B.C. Greens are aiming to present a “full slate” of candidates during this election, but most of their resources will be focused on target ridings along the southwest coast.
Speaking outside the legislature in Victoria, Lowan said the cost of living is the party’s key campaign issue.
She criticized NDP government decisions, including ending the community housing fund intake and pausing new enrolment in the $10-a-day child-care program.
Lowan said she hopes to make inroads this election with workers and the labour movement, which has historically been a major source of support for the NDP.
“I think this is no longer a party that looks narrowly at environmentalism as the single issue. I see it as connected to all issues, which means that we’re building power with many new constituencies, and labour is certainly one of them,” she said.
