'Nail-biter' result predicted in Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge as voters weigh international, hyper-local issues
Poll trackers show race too close to call in riding that has elected a Conservative and a Liberal
Poll trackers show more than a half-dozen ridings in B.C. too close to call as voting day nears on April 28, with voters in places like the Fraser Valley saying their decision hinges on who can be the best local representative, but also part of a government that can best defend Canada.
"It's going to be very close. I think it's going to be a nail-biter, actually," said James Dupont, a Maple Ridge resident. "I'm on the edge with the Liberals, but you know, I want something that works … I'm thinking Conservative."
The urban and rural riding of Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge, with around 100,000 residents, has had both a Liberal and Conservative member of Parliament, and residents are carefully mulling their choice again this election.
Constituents like Dupont say that with the area's population quickly increasing, affordable housing, access to health care, and public safety are all election issues in tandem with the economic and sovereignty threat posed by the U.S. administration under Donald Trump.
One of the biggest issues in Pitt Meadows is a long-promised, but yet-to-be-delivered overpass for a train yard in the middle of town that would remedy the often long traffic delays.
"It's not just a train going through, but it's backing up, it's stalling, sitting still, it's grabbing more cars. It's just sometimes the lineup there is insane," said Rob McCoy, who moved to Pitt Meadows from New Westminster six years ago for more affordable housing.
The local chamber of commerce said it has 550 members and is growing, but businesses need strong politicians to advocate for their needs, such as commercial space and a strong federal response to the U.S. tariff threat amid high interest rates, inflation and a tough labour market.
"Five years ago, we were in a pandemic, and I feel like businesses are just starting to get back on their feet," said Kristi Maier, the CEO of the Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce.
"And here we are hit with another problem that businesses have to deal with. It's a lot for businesses to be able to handle."
Ground game critical, candidates say
Polling aggregators like 338Canada predict Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge will be a toss-up between the Conservatives and Liberals, where incumbent Marc Dalton is trying to win for the third straight election over banker Angie Rowell.
The NDP's Daniel Heydenrych is trying to convince voters that his party deserves to have parliamentarians in Ottawa to work collaboratively with other parties over the country's most pressing issues.
The seat is also being contested by Chris Lehner with the People's Party of Canada and Peter Buddle with the Rhinoceros Party.
Candidates like Rowell say the race will come down to who best connects — in person — with voters in the riding through door knocking and phone calls.
"And so I'm understanding, I think the … more of the emotional side of politics and for candidates and voters to feel they have a connection to the person they are voting for," said Rowell.
Dalton and Heydenrych did not respond to inquiries from CBC News about their campaigns.
Of the 343 seats being contested across Canada, 43 are in B.C., of which the Liberals held 15 in the 44th Parliament, the Conservatives 14, the NDP 13 and the Greens one.
Other tight races in the Fraser Valley include Abbotsford-South Langley and Cloverdale-Langley City.
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