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- April 13: Federal riding spotlight: Cowichan—Malahat–Langford
April 13: Federal riding spotlight: Cowichan—Malahat–Langford
Spring weather & drought forecast. 12 new restaurants. Supreme Court cites Simpsons. Construction collapse.
Capital Daily Team
April 13, 2025
Good morning !
Today we have another local riding profile, along with coverage of the latest spring weather projections and snowpack report—plus a rundown of the local restaurants that have opened up this year.
— Cam
Today’s approx. read time: 4 / 7 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
Today: 🌤 13 / 5
Tomorrow: 🌤 15 / 7
Tuesday: ☀️ 15 / 5
NEWS
Federal riding spotlight: Cowichan–Malahat–Langford
Image: Parliament of Canada website
There are two current ridings that cover parts of the Westshore. Both are descendants of Esquimalt Juan de Fuca, which was redistricted in 2015.
The old riding had been dominated by Keith Martin with the Liberals (2004, 2006, 2008), Alliance (2000), Reform (1997, 1993), and briefly as an independent. Before Martin the seat was held by Dave Barrett, formerly the NDP's first-ever BC Premier.
The NDP's Randall Garrison had been a relatively close second to Martin at points in the 2000s before breaking through to win in 2011. Parts of that riding then became Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke, which Garrison and the NDP held until his retirement last year.
The rest was combined with parts of the Cowichan riding to create Cowichan–Malahat–Langford. A vast riding, it spans from Langford and Highlands west past Port Renfrew, northwest past Lake Cowichan, and north up the Malahat to Chemainus. Its population is at this point split fairly evenly between Langford residents and Cowichan Valley residents, following Langford's substantial growth in the past decade.
NDP MP Alistair MacGregor has won all three elections this riding has had, each time by double digits. This year he faces challenges from Conservative Jeff Kibble, a veteran; Liberal Blair Herbert, a real estate agent and farmer; the Green Party's Kathleen Code, an environmental steward and former government worker; and the PPC's Dagmar Goeschick, a small business owner.
Read more about the candidates’ backgrounds and policy priorities in the full story at Capital Daily.
Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke spotlight will be coming out next.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
It's about to get hot: Victoria temperatures will climb to 20 by next weekend. Highs will be a few degrees lower where winds blow onshore, though. [Forecast]
UV Index: 5 (moderate) today.
You can now vote early at Elections Canada locations.
BC Ferries adding more Saver Fares for spring.
Blanshard construction is winding down in next couple of days.
Royals begin WHL semifinals today & tomorrow in Spokane.
Grizzlies can win series tonight in Coquitlam in Game 6 of BCHL first round.
Tsunami Preparedness Week begins today; Victoria advises residents to check their area's hazards level.
