What do B.C. voters care about this federal election? According to 3 of them, tariffs and the cost of living
Voters from across the political spectrum told The Current who they plan to vote for and why
Tariff threats. A housing crisis. The ever-increasing cost of living.
That's what's on people's minds as they head to the polls in B.C., according to three voters who spoke with The Current's Matt Galloway ahead of the upcoming federal election.
With election day set for April 28, The Current is criss-crossing the country, talking to voters about who they are voting for and why. We kicked off our tour in Surrey, B.C., a border town with a booming population and lots of businesses that face hardship should the U.S. president impose the tariffs he's threatened.
Around a breakfast table, here's what one longtime NDP voter, an NDP-to-Liberal convert, and a first-time voter casting a Conservative ballot all had to say about the election.
Connor Kuznik
At 20 years old, this election marks the first time Connor Kuznik will get the chance to cast a federal ballot. He says his is going to Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives.
Kuznik, who studies political science at Surrey's Kwantlen Polytechnic University, says the decision came down to a generational divide that's making it harder for younger people to dream of a prosperous future.
"[Young people] feel that the rug has kind of been pulled out from our feet, and it all has to do with cost of living and … housing affordability," Kuznik told Galloway.
For him, the Liberal party represents an "untenable status quo," whereas he believes Poilievre's housing plan could measurably bring down the cost of housing even within one term as prime minister. He also thinks Poilievre is best suited to stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump.
As the trade war casts its shadow over this election, Kuznik adds he's seen the trade war play out right in front of him at his part-time grocery store job. The corn and watermelon coming up from the States, which used to fly off the shelves, aren't being purchased as regularly, he says.
Kuznik says he understands why Trump and the Buy Canadian movement are top of mind in this election. But, he thinks too much focus on our southern neighbours only proves the American president's point.
"If we allow this election to be derailed by foreign politics, we are in some ways proving Donald Trump right, that Canada is sort of a puppet that can be abused by the United States," Kuznik said. "I think that we need to differentiate ourselves [from] … the United States by focusing on domestic policy and not on foreign policy."
Whoever the next prime minister is, Kuznik says he hopes they will make life more affordable.
"We've had a decade of economic stagnation, and I don't really think it's possible for things to get worse. So no matter who wins the election, we are looking forward to brighter days ahead of us," Kuznik said.
Sammi Jo Rumbaua
Sammi Jo Rumbaua doesn't remember ever talking about American politics when she was in school. But now, even her 10-year-old son knows who Donald Trump is.
She says that's a testament to how much political information is swirling around on social media — and how tuned in people are to this next election.
The small business owner, youth worker and political organizer says the looming trade war and the cost of living implications it would have are weighing heavy on her mind leading up to the vote.
She says she plans to vote for the NDP in this election, as she has in the past. While she's new to her riding, she likes the incumbent NDP candidate Don Davies and says he's proven himself to the community, which matters a lot to her.
"[I'm] really looking at character in a politician as well as, you know, the party's values and integrity," Rumbaua said.
She's also happy to support the NDP again, she says, given the policies they were able to bring into existence — like dental care and pharmacare — through the supply and confidence deal with the past Liberal minority.
Tyrone L'Hirondelle
Tyrone L'Hirondelle usually votes with the NDP. But he's no fan of Pierre Poilievre, so the retired TV news editor is leaning toward a more strategic vote for the Liberal Party this time around.
To him, Poilievre talks like a populist (not a compliment, L'Hirondelle says) and has done more to divide the country than bring it together. Poilievre's support of the trucker convoy is an example of the leader amplifying division, he says.
"When we get into just quick little slogans all the time, we're not having a deeper understanding of … these problems. And it's diluting the whole discussion to sound bites," L'Hirondelle told Galloway.
Even as someone who usually votes NDP, L'Hirondelle says he's not all that worried about Carney moving the party further to the centre — if anything that's a good thing, he adds, as it might steal some votes away from the Conservatives.
L'Hirondelle says he's most worried about threats from the U.S. this election and the economic force they're applying through tariffs.
"I just feel like we're in danger of … literally losing our country to the United States," he said.
He hopes that the sense of unity and Canadian pride alive in the country right now can survive the campaign, too.
"I think we can work together and … make the country strong on its own without having to acquiesce to the powers down south."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Voter panel produced by Enza Uda and Anne Penman