| Bio | Darlene Rotchford was elected MLA for Esquimalt-Colwood in 2024 and served as Parliamentary Secretary for Armed Forces Development and Veterans' Affairs. Previously an Esquimalt councillor and president of the Victoria Labour Council, her professional background is in mental health and addictions. She is the BC NDP candidate for Esquimalt-Colwood. | No bio on record. Know something? | Sid Tobias served 24 years in the Royal Canadian Navy, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer First Class, before more than a decade in the BC Public Service. Elected mayor of View Royal in 2022, he also serves as a CRD director and is running for CentreBC in Esquimalt-Colwood. | Sidney Coles is a journalist, researcher and former public servant running as the Green candidate in Esquimalt-Colwood. She holds two PhDs from the University of Toronto and has worked with Indigenous leadership, including as External Communications Manager for the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs, and with Doctors Without Borders in the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
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| HealthcareWill there be a doctor, a hospital, and care when we need it? | | Committed to repealing and replacing the HPOA to keep professional oversight free of political interference. - Asked by the HPOA candidate questionnaire (Psychologists of BC for Ethical Care and Governance): "Will you commit to repealing the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) and replacing it with legislation, built with the professions and the public, that keeps politics out of health care?"
- Committed to repealing and replacing the Health Professions and Occupations Act
- Says professional oversight should stay independent and free from political interference
Show their words & sourceHide (one sentence)“Yes. We support repealing the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) and working with the professions to keep their oversight independent and free from political interference.” Source: HPOA and the 2026 BC Election | Psychologists of BC for Ethical Care and Governance · October 11, 2026 Confidence:High | This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source. Endorses a goal of a family doctor or nurse-practitioner team for everyone who wants one by the end of 2031. - Writing on his own campaign site on Oct 20, 2026, Tobias names access to primary health care as one of his three priorities for Esquimalt–Colwood
- Endorses a goal of a family doctor or nurse-practitioner team for everyone who wants one by the end of 2031
- Points to the Eagle Creek primary care clinic as an example of local leadership and cooperation delivering results
“Expanding access to family doctors and nurse practitioner teams, with a goal of providing primary care to everyone who wants it by the end of 2031.” (a page or more) Source: Why I Chose CentreBC: Putting Practical Solutions Ahead of Political Division — Sid Tobias · October 20, 2026 Confidence:High Says quality healthcare begins with access to primary care and communities can be part of the solution. - Says quality healthcare begins with access to primary care and communities can be part of the solution
- Points to View Royal, Colwood and Esquimalt creating new primary-care clinics with physicians
- Calls it a practical example of communities, providers and governments working together
“Quality healthcare begins with access to primary care, and communities can be part of the solution.” (several paragraphs) Source: Sid Tobias - Esquimalt-Colwood Confidence:High Think we’ve got this wrong? | |
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| HousingWill I be able to afford to live here? | | | This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source. Says housing policy should build complete, healthy communities, not just hit density targets; backs doubling BC Builds to 20,000 homes. - Writing on his own campaign site on Oct 20, 2026, Tobias names housing as one of his three priorities for Esquimalt–Colwood
- Says provincial housing policy should support complete, healthy communities rather than focus almost exclusively on density targets
- Also backs doubling BC Builds to 20,000 below-market homes by 2031
“Third, we need to reconsider the province’s approach to housing. Building more homes is essential, but provincial housing policy should support complete, healthy communities rather than focus almost exclusively on density targets.” (a page or more) Source: Why I Chose CentreBC: Putting Practical Solutions Ahead of Political Division — Sid Tobias · October 20, 2026 Confidence:High Co-wrote a piece saying B.C. should build homes for people, not properties for portfolios. - Co-authored with fellow CentreBC candidate Andrew Weaver
- Says B.C. should be building homes for people, not simply properties for portfolios
“We should be building homes for people, not simply properties for portfolios.” (several paragraphs) Source: Who Are We Building For? Investors or Families? - Andrew Weaver · October 16, 2026 Confidence:High Think we’ve got this wrong? | Wants Esquimalt and Colwood to stay places where families feel welcome, safe and able to thrive. - Wants Esquimalt and Colwood to remain places where people and families feel welcome, safe and able to thrive
- Focuses on evidence-based policy, environmental responsibility and reconciliation
Show their words & sourceHide (one sentence)“I want to support Esquimalt and Colwood in continuing to be places where people and their families feel welcome, safe, and are able to thrive.” Source: Sidney Coles - Esquimalt-Colwood - BC Green Party Confidence:High |
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| Cost of livingCan I afford groceries, hydro and insurance? | | | Would raise the annual renter's tax credit from $400 to $600, with income-based eligibility. - Writing on his own campaign site on Oct 20, 2026, CentreBC candidate Sid Tobias endorses his party's costed platform
- Would raise the annual renter's tax credit from $400 to $600 with income-based eligibility
- Cites this as one of the platform's specific commitments with numbers and dates attached
Show their words & sourceHide (a page or more)“Increasing the annual renter’s tax credit from $400 to $600, with income-based eligibility.” Source: Why I Chose CentreBC: Putting Practical Solutions Ahead of Political Division — Sid Tobias · October 20, 2026 Confidence:High | |
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| Economy & jobsWill BC's economy create good jobs where I live? | Rotchford says she and the BC NDP have a plan to protect people and services and build a stronger economy. - From her 2026 campaign site (third-person campaign copy)
- Says she and the BC NDP have a plan to stand up for the province, protect people and services, and build a stronger economy
Show their words & sourceHide (a few sentences)“Darlene Rotchford, David Eby and the BC NDP have a plan to stand up for our province, protect people and services, and build a stronger economy, so you can build a good life in the community you love.” Source: Darlene Rotchford and David Eby's BC NDP team Confidence:High | | | |
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| EducationWill my kids' schools be properly funded? | | | | |
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| Environment & climateIs the province protecting forests, water and climate? | | | | |
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| Public safetyWill repeat offenders stay off my street? | | | This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source. Has worked directly on policing and emergency services as mayor and CRD director; backs strong public-safety systems. - Has worked directly on policing, emergency services and regional infrastructure as mayor and CRD director
- Notes the growing costs municipalities face providing essential public-safety services
- Backs British Columbians feeling safe in their homes and communities
“As Mayor and CRD Director, I have worked directly on policing, emergency services, regional infrastructure and the growing costs municipalities face in providing essential public-safety services.” (a few sentences) Source: Sid Tobias - Esquimalt-Colwood Confidence:High Think we’ve got this wrong? | |
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| TransportationWill the highways, ferries and transit keep up? | | | Backs a 15% increase in transit service by 2030; cites the Reconciliation Corridor Initiative as a regional transport model. - Writing on his own campaign site on Oct 20, 2026, Tobias names transportation across the West Shore as one of his three priorities
- Endorses a 15% increase in transit service by 2030
- Also cites the Reconciliation Corridor Initiative — First Nations, municipalities and regional partners exploring a regional transportation solution
Show their words & sourceHide (a page or more)“Increasing transit service by 15% by 2030.” Source: Why I Chose CentreBC: Putting Practical Solutions Ahead of Political Division — Sid Tobias · October 20, 2026 Confidence:High | Coles: landed in 'cycling heaven' but wants communities' bike paths connected so commuters are safe the whole ride home. - BROWSER-PASS row: verbatim quote recovered from the vicnews.com profile (Oct 13) via live browser; policy-blocked for text fetch
- Said she left Langford because it was too car-oriented; prefers commuting by bicycle or bus
- Wants connector routes improved between the region's main cycling pathways
Show their words & sourceHide (reported remarks)“I feel like I landed in cycling heaven” Source: Victoria News: 'Journalist Sidney Coles seeks Esquimalt-Colwood seat for BC Greens' · October 13, 2026 Confidence:High |
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| Mental health & addictionsHow will the province handle the toxic-drug crisis? | | | | |
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| Seniors & long-term careCan seniors age with dignity in BC? | | | | |
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| Indigenous relationsHow will the province work with Indigenous peoples? | | | | |
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| Government & taxesIs the province spending my money wisely? | | | This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source. Backs CentreBC's fiscal plan: deficit to ~$9B by 2030/31, balanced budget by 2034/35, first income-tax rate cut 5.6→5.06%. - Writing on his own campaign site on Oct 20, 2026, CentreBC candidate Sid Tobias endorses his party's costed 42-page platform
- Backs a plan cutting the deficit every year after the first budget to ~$9 billion by 2030/31, with a balanced budget targeted for 2034/35
- Also backs cutting the first provincial income-tax rate from 5.6% to 5.06% in 2027
“For example, the party proposes reducing the provincial deficit each year after its first budget, bringing it to approximately $9 billion by 2030/31, with a balanced budget targeted for 2034/35.” (a page or more) Source: Why I Chose CentreBC: Putting Practical Solutions Ahead of Political Division — Sid Tobias · October 20, 2026 Confidence:High Says better collaboration between governments can deliver better value without shifting costs between taxpayers. - Says predictable funding and genuine partnership between governments matter
- Argues collaboration can deliver better value without moving costs between taxpayer-funded bodies
“Better collaboration between governments can deliver better value without simply moving costs from one taxpayer-funded organization to another.” (a few sentences) Source: Sid Tobias - Esquimalt-Colwood Confidence:High Think we’ve got this wrong? | Coles: a Green balance-of-power position would let the Greens push the governing party for more for people. - BROWSER-PASS row: verbatim quote recovered from the vicnews.com profile (Oct 13) via live browser; policy-blocked for text fetch
- Hopes the Greens win enough seats to hold the governing party accountable
Show their words & sourceHide (reported remarks)“We're going to push back and ask for more for people because they deserve more.” Source: Victoria News: 'Journalist Sidney Coles seeks Esquimalt-Colwood seat for BC Greens' · October 13, 2026 Confidence:High |
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BC NDPElected — unofficial result
Conservative Party
CentreBC
BC Green Party