Tanille Johnston is focused on community in North Island-Powell River

Three days out from the election, NDP Candidate Tanille Johnston is working to win it but acknowledges she’s in a tough race in North Island-Powell River. 

On an early morning ferry to Powell River after an all-candidates debate on Quadra Island the evening before, she’s off to a meet and greet at a local diner, followed by a visit to a seniors’ residence, and finally a guest appearance at a trivia night. 

Born and raised in Campbell River, Johnston is Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ from the We Wai Kai First Nation with a Masters degree in social work.The first-ever Indigenous person elected to Campbell River city council, she also works as primary care manager on Vancouver Island for First Nations Health Authority. 

Despite running second behind Conservative candidate Aaron Gunn, Johnston is confident her deep community roots, political experience and commitment to respectful politics will prevail in the riding that historically swings between orange and blue. 

“We're in this same battle every single time in North Island — this is what our riding looks like,” Johnston said. “We can win it because we win it all the time.” 

This time could be different, if polling and national trends are accurate. Widespread voter anxiety around the threat of Trump tariffs has boosted support for Liberals in many Vancouver Island ridings, even though party leaders have never strayed further than Victoria except to vacation in Tofino. 

The result being that vote splitting between the NDP and the Liberals all but assures the seat for Gunn, a prominent right-wing influencer from Victoria with a large social media following who was parachuted into the riding for the Conservatives. 

Polls show Gunn has the support of 45 per cent of voters in the riding, followed by Johnston with 23 per cent, who is trailed by Liberal Jennifer Lash with 13 per cent, according to a recent poll by Research Co. Green Jessica Wegg and Paul Macknight of the People’s Party lag well behind with 2 per cent. However, one-in-six eligible voters in the riding remain undecided, leaving enough of the vote up for grabs that the Liberal and NDP support — combined — could overtake Gunn’s lead. 

Johnston is frustrated that the election has become focused solely on strategic voting rather than more important equity issues such as childcare, free and accessible post-secondary education, transit and transportation, renewable energy, Indigenous decision-making and healthcare — particularly in the context of rural and remote communities. 

Polls don’t fully capture what’s happening on shifting ground in the riding, Johnston said, arguing the NDP still represents the best chance of beating the Conservatives. 

However, the flight of the 55 and older voters to the Liberal vote in the riding is going to make any potential NDP win harder, said BC pollster Mario Canseco, president of Research Co.   

Gunn has also spent well over a year campaigning, identifying his base in a riding which already has a history of strong Conservative support, he said, adding there also seems to be a strong anti-establishment streak in the North Island’s voting history, which doesn’t necessarily see candidate support based on whether they will form government. 

Johnston has been publicly critical of Gunn, criticizing his total absence from every debate organized during the election and his divisive social media statements on residential schools, trans, women and 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. Highlighting his inability to face anyone but supporters means he can’t represent the diversity of constituents in the riding, she said. 

“We’re seeing the most right-wing extremist views we ever have, and we're feeling that anxiety and division more than ever,” she said. 

“It’s just so harmful to the culture of our community across the board.” 

Regardless, faithful core Conservatives don’t tend to be swayed by public outrage over a candidate’s controversial comments, Canseco said, pointing to BC Conservative MLA Brent Chapman's solid electoral win despite calls for his removal after similar comments. 

Gunn has also faced criticism nationwide with widespread calls, particularly from First Nations leaders, for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre to pull him as a candidate without success. A recent online petition calling for Gunn’s removal has nearly 20,000 signatures. 

Dismissing Gunn’s wedge politics, Johnston said she’s focused on tapping the riding's strengths and relying on her experience and commitment to engage with a diversity of outlooks to find common ground and solutions to important issues. 

“You need to be able to meet opposition head on but do so in a way that isn't triggering so people want to work with you,"she said. 

“[Gunn] is thriving off division, and it's harmful to the culture of our community across the board, and it's just not who we are as North Island-Powell River.” 

Rochelle Baker / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada’s National Observer