Federal Election 2025 Indigenous Rights Voter Guide: Saanich—Gulf Islands District

April 28th, 2025, is election day, and the Saanich—Gulf Islands District will take to the polls to elect a Member of Parliament (MP) and to influence who will be the next Prime Minister (PM). Current polling suggests a very tight race between the Green and the Conservative Candidates in this riding, so your vote matters a lot.

If you are W̱SÁNEĆ or an ally living in the Saanich—Gulf Islands District, you should consider how your vote  will impact Indigenous rights in the coming years. The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (WLC) have developed a summary table (below) to  help you understand each party and candidate’s commitments to Indigenous rights so you can make an informed decision.

Who Are the Federal Candidates Up for Election in the Saanich—Gulf Islands District?

During the upcoming election, the people of the Saanich—Gulf Islands District will choose one person to represent the District as the MP. There are five people competing for this spot, including the District’s current MP, Elizabeth May of the Green Party. Elizabeth May first assumed the seat of MP for the District in 2011 and has held it consistently since. Other candidates include David Beckham of the Liberal Party, Raymon Farmere of the People’s Party of Canada, Cathie Ounsted of the Conservative Party, and Colin Plant of the New Democratic Party.

What are the Candidates’ and Parties’ Promises and Track Records Regarding Indigenous Rights?

Each party has a different approach to Indigenous rights. The following table provides a high-level look at the pros and cons of each party. Subsequent sections provide more detailed information on how each party’s platform addresses major issues such as UNDRIP, sovereignty, and funding for housing and community safety. 

* Further information on each party’s positions can be found at the end of this article (see **Appendix).

How to vote strategically to make sure your vote counts!

In Canada, the leader of the party that wins the most seats in Parliament becomes the PM. If the winning party holds fewer than 170 seats, its power is limited, and that party must collaborate with other parties to pass major legislation.

Currently, the Liberal Party holds 153 seats and the Conservative Party holds 120 seats. The remainder of the seats are spread among the remaining parties, including 32 seats held by Bloc Québécois, 25 seats held by the New Democratic Party, 2 seats held by the Green Party, 3 Independent seats, and 3 vacant seats. Because the Liberal Party does not hold 170 or more seats, it must rely on cooperation from other parties to pass major legislation.

Those seeking to prevent a Conservative government may choose to vote for the Liberal Party or for an aligned party such as the New Democratic Party or the Green Party. However, it is important to note that in Canada you vote for a local candidate, and circumstances change from riding to riding. For example, in many ridings across the country, the Liberals have by far the best chance to beat out Conservative candidates. However, in other ridings, that may not be the case. In Saanich-Gulf Islands, for instance, recent riding-specific polls indicate that Elizabeth May and the Green Party are leading and in the best position to beat out the Conservatives. It may be worth looking at polling numbers, historical trends, and up-to-date information on your riding and local candidates to determine who is best to vote for. It is important to learn about your local candidates running to be your representative in Parliament and consider how your vote will contribute to the overall makeup of the government.

WLC encourages all eligible Indigenous community members and allies to make their voices heard. Election day is April 28th, 2025, and there are several opportunities for early voting. Voting dates and information are available through the Elections Website.

Regardless of the outcome of the election, WLC will continue working diligently to promote the interests of W̱SÁNEĆ. To stay up to date on this work, be sure to subscribe to WLC’s newsletter.

**Appendix

Summary of Positions Held by the Green Party: Candidate Elizabeth May

• Supports UNDRIP
  
  Clearly expressed desire to implement UNDRIP (learn more).
• Supports Indigenous Rights, Self Determination, and Reconciliation
  
  The Party supports reconciliation and believes in Indigenous rights and self-determination (learn more).
• Committed to Nation-to-Nation Relationships and Ending the Indian Act
  
  The Party is committed to building nation-to-nation relationships, and will support putting an end to the Indian Act (learn more).

• Will Implement Calls to Action
  
  Has committed to the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry (learn more).

• Committed to Ending Systemic Discrimination in the Justice System
  
  The Party is committed to fixing the way the justice system disproportionately harms Indigenous people (learn more). 
• Supports Healing and Justice for Residential School Survivors
  
  Committed to supporting healing around residential school trauma (learn more).
  
  In 2021, committed to provide funding to help identify missing children and to call upon the Pope for an apology (learn more). 
• Supports Water Safety, Education, and Health
  
  In 2021, promised to end long-term boil water advisories in Indigenous communities by upgrading infrastructure (learn more).
  
  In 2021, promised to ensure every Indigenous person has access to education (learn more). 

Summary of Positions Held by the Liberal Party: Candidate David Beckham

• Supports Nation-to-Nation Relationships and Indigenous Rights
  
  Has demonstrated a commitment to building nation-to-nation relationships and working collaboratively to affirm Indigenous rights (learn more).
  
  Established September 30th as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (learn more).
  
  Modified Canadian Citizenship Oath in a way that recognizes Indigenous rights (learn more).
• Supports Self Determination and Land Back
  
  Promised to support self-determination, treaty implementation, land claims, and a transition away from the Indian Act (learn more).
• Supports Indigenous Jurisdiction
  
  Supported Indigenous communities’ resumption of jurisdiction in areas such as child and family services, education, health care, policing, taxes, and law (learn more).
• Protects the Environment
  
  Promises to protect the environment. Beckham, according to liberal.ca, is committed to renewable energy sources (learn more).
• Provides Funding to Support the Health of Indigenous Communities
  
  In 2020 and 2021, spent $1.5 billion to help lift long-term boil water advisories in Indigenous communities (learn more).
  
  In 2021, committed $18 billion over five years to improve quality of life in Indigenous communities, plus additional funding for mental health and wellness (learn more).
  
  Committed $9 billion in funding in 2024 to help Indigenous communities with issues ranging from housing and healthcare to mental health and child and family services reform (learn more).
• Proven Support for Residential School Survivors
  
  Ahead of the 2021 election, provided $320 million to investigate residential schools and help survivors. Also committed to building a monument for survivors (learn more).
• Will Enact Calls to Action
  
  In 2021, promised to enact every Call to Action identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (learn more).

Summary of Positions Held by the New Democratic Party: Candidate Colin Plant

• Supports Nation-to-Nation Relationships, Indigenous Rights, and Reconciliation
  
  Expressed support for nation-to-nation relationship building and a commitment to reconciliation and recognition of Indigenous rights (learn more).
  
  According to CBC, in 2021 the Party said it would develop “a First Nations justice and policing strategy while advancing Indigenous rights and self-determination” (learn more).
  
  Also in 2021, committed $30 billion toward reconciliation efforts (learn more).
• Will Address Housing, Water, and Health Care
  
  The Party’s website indicates it is committed to providing “safe housing, clean drinking water, and access to health care” for every Indigenous community (learn more).
• Committed to Ending Systemic Discrimination in Education
  
  The Party is committed to ending discrimination against Indigenous children in education settings (learn more). 
• Supports UNDRIP
  
  Committed to fully implementing UNDRIP (learn more).
• Will Implement Calls to Action
  
  Committed to implementing Calls to Action made by The Truth and Reconciliation Commission and The National Inquiry of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (learn more).
• Supports Justice for Residential School Survivors
  
  In 2021, according to CBC, “pledged to quickly appoint a special prosecutor to pursue accountability for crimes committed in residential schools, pursue those responsible for the abuse or deaths of children, and require churches and governments hand over all records” (learn more).

Summary of Positions Held by the People’s Party of Canada: Candidate Raymon Farmere

While information on the People’s Party of Canada’s stance on Indigenous rights in BC is limited, in its platform, it has expressed the following desires regarding Indigenous communities in Ottawa. 

• • Supports Self Reliance in Indigenous Communities
    
    Wants to replace the Indian Act to promote self-reliance in Indigenous communities (learn more).

• Supports Federal Government Decision Making Over Major Projects
  
  Wants to empower federal government decision-making over infrastructure and natural resource projects and ensure Indigenous communities can benefit economically, assuming consultation with Indigenous communities (learn more).

• Supports Individual Property Rights on Reserves
  
  The Party supports the establishment of individual property rights on reserves (learn more).

• Wants to Refine Federal Spending
  
  Plans to review and refine federal spending on Indigenous communities (learn more).

• Promised to Support Clean Drinking Water
  
  In 2021, promised to help bring clean drinking water to remote Indigenous communities (learn more).

Summary of Positions Held by the Conservative Party: Candidate Cathie Ounsted

• • Focused on Fast-Tracking Resource Projects and Forming Economic Partnerships
    
    Current focus is on creating economic opportunities for Indigenous communities by fast-tracking resource projects.
    
    The Party also expressed a commitment to creating economic partnerships with Indigenous communities in 2021 (learn more).

• Supports Implementation of Some Calls to Action
  
  In 2021, promised to implement some Calls to Action identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (learn more).

• Supports Resources for Residential School Investigations and Survivors
  
  In 2021, according to Indigenous Youth Roots, it promised to “fund an investigation of all former residential schools while allocating resources to communities to honour victims and survivors of residential schools” (learn more).
  
  In 2021, promised to build a monument for survivors (learn more).

• Tough on Crime Approach to Community Safety
  
  Takes a “tough on crime” approach to community safety, meaning the Party plans to implement what CBC calls “American-style” policies to incarcerate more people for longer durations of time (learn more).
• Committed to Improving Health Through Some Funding
  
  In 2021, promised to end long-term drinking water advisories in Indigenous communities.
  
  In 2021, promised to provide $1 billion over five years to support mental health and drug treatment in Indigenous communities.