Andrew Weaver is once again running to represent Oak Bay–Gordon Head, but he’s doing it under a new party banner. The former B.C. Green Party leader, who was the first Green MLA elected in B.C. history, will seek his old seat in next month’s election as a member of CentreBC. Weaver announced his candidacy with the upstart centrist party at a news conference in Oak Bay Wednesday, the first full day of the snap election campaign. He told reporters the recent flocking of incumbent MLAs from the Conservatives to CentreBC and then back to the Conservatives “left a bad taste” in his mouth. “It left a taste that, once again, we’re seeing politicians put their interests, their desire for power and election ahead of their principles and integrity and ethical values,” Weaver said. NDP Leader David Eby calling “an election nobody wants” is another example of this cynicism, Weaver said, while praising CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko for her “enormous integrity” and “profound courage.” “I am very pleased to welcome Andrew as a candidate, and I know his experience will be an asset in the B.C. legislature,” said Sturko, in a statement. “I look forward to working with Andrew on this campaign and I thank him for choosing to step forward to represent the people of Oak Bay–Gordon Head.” Green leader chooses riding Weaver’s former party also held a news conference on Vancouver Island Wednesday, announcing its plans for the upcoming election. Rob Botterell, who was elected in Saanich North and the Islands in 2024, announced he would not be seeking re-election this year. In his place, Green Party Leader Emily Lowan will seek to represent the riding. “Having the chance to represent Saanich North and the Islands, the same neighbourhoods in which I grew up, is a profound honour,” said Lowan, in a statement. “From a lack of access to health care, to the instability of a housing crisis, to underfunded ferry routes, to the threats of drought and climate disaster, the people of Saanich North and the Islands deserve someone who’s willing to fight tooth and nail for them. That’s exactly what I’ll do in the legislature.” Lowan—who, at 26, is by far the youngest party leader running in this election—was chosen as Green leader last year, but has not sought a seat in the legislature until now. The Greens’ other incumbent MLA, Jeremy Valeriote, is running for re-election in West Vancouver–Sea to Sky. In 2024, he became the first Green candidate to win a seat on the B.C. mainland. Shifting allegiances Weaver represented Oak Bay–Gordon Head from 2013 through 2020 and served as leader of the Green Party of B.C. from 2015 through 2020, a period that included signing a historic confidence and supply agreement with the NDP under John Horgan in 2017. Founded by former B.C. United MLA Karin Kirkpatrick as a political home for those who find the B.C. NDP and B.C. Conservatives too extreme, CentreBC briefly swelled to eight members last week when several former Conservative MLAs dissatisfied with the leadership of Kerry-Lynne Findlay joined the party. After Findlay’s resignation on Sunday and Eby’s snap election call on Tuesday, however, all of CentreBC’s incumbents except Sturko returned to the Conservative fold. While Eby has insisted that an election is necessary to give British Columbians a say on the NDP government’s response to trade aggression from U.S. President Donald Trump, most observers believe his decision to call one for Oct. 24 is an attempt to capitalize on discord among the opposition parties. Lowan referenced this perspective at the start of her remarks Wednesday. “Premier Eby has said this election is about Trump, but we all know this election is about Premier Eby,” she said, before outlining her party’s key messages of affordability and economic fairness. “I think this election is an opportunity to look past the cynicism and the political calculus of the moment and to believe in something better,” Lowan said.
