- Incumbent: John Rustad (Conservative | 2005)
- Candidates:
- NDP: Murphy Abraham
- Conservative: John Rustad
- Green: Douglas Gook
- Results:
- Liberal – 52%
- NDP – 34%
- Other – 13%
- Description:
- Home to the Goof from the ‘Hoof, John Rustad’s riding of Nechako Lakes could become home to the first Premier from northern British Columbia since Duff Pattullo himself. The sprawling riding overlaps much of the Bulkley-Nechako regional district, and is home to forestry, agricultural, and mining industries - as well as some tourism.
- Nechako Lakes’ conservatism is anchored by the towns of Houston and Vanderhoof. Originally, BC United had fielded Houston Mayor Shane Brienen as a shot across to bow to Rustad, but his exit means that Rustad will incorporate whatever support he had easily into his coalition. Vanderhoof and its environs, excluding the Saik'uz First Nation are staunchly right-wing, with Rustad often breaking 70% in polls there.
- The NDP draws its strength from the smaller communities of Burns Lake and Fort St. James, along with other First Nations reserves dotted across the riding. To capitalize on this, the NDP have nominated Murphy Abraham, former Chief of the Lake Babine First Nation, in hopes of boosting turnout among Indigenous communities.
- Nechako Lakes is a curious microcosm of politics in northern ridings. Small towns and hamlets that dot the landscape are solidly right-wing, especially if they rely on natural resources such as forestry or mining. Meanwhile, touristy towns tend to be a bit more lefty, and the First Nations reserves are ardently NDP. With Rustad having a good shot at the Premiership, what to watch for will be whether or not he gets a hometown boost even in traditionally Dipper turf.
Hugh Chan is a second year student at UBC studying International Relations and Data Science. You can find more coverage of the 2024 BC election as well as politics across East Asia and the Anglosphere at https://x.com/shxnhugh.
