With less than a month until the federal election, the federal Conservatives have announced their candidate in the riding of Victoria: Hannah Hodson.
Hodson has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Victoria and spent seven years working as a communications coordinator for the former BC Government under Premier Christy Clark, as well as working in Ottawa for an incumbent Conservative MP.
The former Clark staffer is a transgender Canadian whose intention is advancing LGBTQ+ rights, protecting the environment, and managing the affordability and housing crises.
“From difficulty accessing gender affirming healthcare to being subjected to hateful comments. I want to show people like me, and anyone who feels that they have been ignored, that I will fight for them,” Hodson said in a statement.
Running opposite the newly announced Conservative candidate in the Victoria riding are incumbent Laurel Collins for the NDP, Green Party candidate Nick Loughton and Liberal candidate Nikki Macdonald.
Two debates are scheduled with the leaders of the federal parties, Jagmeet Singh (NDP), Justin Trudeau (Liberal), Erin O’Toole (Conservative), and Anammie Paul (Green). Maxime Bernier (PPC) was denied entry to the debates after his party failed to meet the necessary criteria..
The English debate is scheduled for September 9th and the French debate for September 8th.
Laurel Collins (NDP)
Collins is the NDP Critic for Environment and Climate Change, the Deputy Critic for Infrastructure and Communities, and Vice Chair of the NDP Caucus
She served on Victoria City Council and is a former UVic professor of sociology.
Collins says if re-elected, she will continue to advocate for stronger climate change legislation, and address issues involving the opioid and housing crises.
Nikki Macdonald (Liberal)
Macdonald is running for the second time after campaigning for the Liberals in 2019. In her previous showing, she placed third behind the Greens and NDP, but increased the Liberals’ vote share by over 10 per cent compared to 2015. She sits on the board of directors for the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and the Mount Work Coalition.
Macdonald’s main issues of concern for this election involve climate change and the opioid crisis.
Nick Loughtoun (Green)
Nick Loughton was a cancer researcher at the University of Calgary and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Law.
This is his first tenure as a Green party candidate, though he also worked with former candidate Racelle Kooy for the Green party in 2019.
Loughton’s focus, if elected, would be to tackle issues surrounding the climate crisis, accessible health care, and income inequality.
