Saanich Coun. Colin Plant is running for MP, having been selected on April 27 to represent the NDP in the next federal election to compete in the Saanich-Gulf Islands riding.
“It’s been a dream to serve in Ottawa one day,” Plant told Black Press Media on Monday (April 29) morning. “And now I’m on the path to pursuing that dream.”
He will attempt to unseat incumbent MP Elizabeth May of the Green Party, whose staff assured Black Press Media on Monday morning that she is running for re-election.
“Elizabeth is most definitely running again,” wrote Green Party spokesperson Debra Eindiguer in an email, noting that she had heard the NDP had put out some misinformation saying otherwise.
An initial NDP press release about Plant’s nomination did state there were rumours of May’s ill-health, but that statement was retracted.
The timing of the next federal election is unknown at this point, but is expected by October of 2025.
May’s riding association nominated her as their candidate for the next election back in November, according to Eindiguer.
The Liberal Party has not yet settled on a candidate, according to a party spokesperson. The Conservative Party currently has five potential candidates seeking the nomination, according to a party spokesperson
An NDP nominating contest was held on April 27 in Sidney at St. Andrews Hall to decide who would be the next NDP candidate for the riding, with Plant defeating lawyer Devon Black, who works for the B.C. government.
Plant currently juggles several jobs, serving as a Saanich councillor, as the Capital Regional District (CRD) board chair, and working as a drama and musical theatre teacher at Claremont Secondary.
He said he will be taking a leave of absence from the council and the CRD positions during the campaign, but would like to continue serving in those roles should he fail to win.
“Depending on the outcome, I would need to resign,” he said. “If I was unsuccessful, I would like to continue to serve the residents of Saanich and the CRD.”
According to a biography provided by Plant, he grew up on a dairy farm in Central Saanich and has worked as a teacher in the Saanich School District for 25 years. He is married with four sons.
Plant acknowledged this will be an uphill battle against an established incumbent who won the last election in 2021 with 37.6 per cent of the vote, doubling the NDP candidate’s share.
NDP candidate Sabina Singh received 18.3 per cent of the vote in that contest, while conservative party candidate David Busch got 22.5 per cent and Liberal Party candidate Sherri Moore-Arbour got 18.4 per cent.
May, a former lawyer and former executive director of the Sierra Club of Canada, has held the seat since 2011. She was the first Green Party candidate ever to be elected to the House of Commons.
The NDP last held the seat in 1993. NDP MP Lynn Hunter held the seat from when the riding was created in 1988 until 1993.
Plant did express confidence despite running against a long-time incumbent.
“I’m really optimistic,” he said. “I don’t put my name forward to do things if I don’t think there’s a good chance it can be successful.”
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