Candidates for the Skeena鈥擝ulkley Valley have swung into gear for the 2025 federal election.
Taylor Bachrach of the NDP is seeking re-election. He is facing off against Ellis Ross of the Conservative Party of Canada, Catriona Wright of the Green Party of Canada, and Rod Taylor of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada. The Liberal Party of Canada did not provide information by press deadline about whether they are running a candidate in the riding.
Ross, the Conservative candidate, is likely to win the riding, according to a predictive model published by political website 338Canada. Their predictive model uses information from national polls, Statistics Canada (such as age and income distribution), and other factors such as a candidate's "star" power to create riding-level predictions.
Ross said he and his team are working hard to earn votes, regardless of the projection.
"We are busy knocking on doors in communities throughout the riding," he said. "We're taking nothing for granted."
Bachrach, the incumbent, said he is not concerned about 338Canada's prediction.
"I think while there are some ridings in which they get close to the actual result, there are lots of cases in which they've been way off," he said. "I don't spend any time at all wringing my hands about things like that. I'm out there talking to people, and I'm, I'm heartened by the fact that we have lots of support here in the Northwest."
Bachrach said he is proud of the work he and the NDP have done in recent years, such as national dental and PharmaCare programs, as well as, a national school lunch program. He also said he hopes to contribute to a "strong response" to the Trump administration's policies and actions regarding Canada. He said it's been an honour to be the Member of Parliament for Skeena鈥擝ulkley Valley.
"I've just been so deeply honoured to represent the Northwest for the past five years, and I think people know that my commitment to them is that I'll
work my butt off every single day," Bachrach said.
Ross, who is Haisla and the former MLA for the Skeena riding, said his top priorities for the region are job creation and economic development.
"I will be a strong advocate for resource development and job creation not only for our riding, but our country," he said. "It was the Haisla along with other First Nations communities in the riding that advocated for LNG development and exporting. Creating good, family-supporting jobs for the region will always be top of mind for me."
Rod Taylor is the national leader of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada and a longtime Bulkley Valley resident. If elected, he will work to bring justice and morality back to government, according to the party's website.
He said he feels very fortunate to have had the life he has enjoyed in the valley.
"Across this country, many of our fellow citizens are not so fortunate. Many Canadians can鈥檛 find a family doctor. Many can鈥檛 afford to own a home. Carbon taxes have raised the cost of everything; the national debt continues to grow like a cancer and families are struggling to pay their bills," Taylor said in a statement on the party's website. 鈥淲e see so many young people driven to despair; violent crime, drug addiction and homelessness have robbed a generation of the prosperity and freedom that should be theirs.
"As your MP, I promise to bring respect for life, family and freedom back to Canada."
Wright and the Green Party are committed to affordable housing, climate action and a green economy, fair taxation, indigenous reconciliation, and expanded healthcare, among other priorities, according to the party's website.
