Liberals nominate Caley as North Shore faces federal by-election
The federal riding of North Vancouver-Capilano is heading to a by-election, and the Liberal Party has named Braeden Caley as its candidate. Caley stepped down this week as deputy chief of staff to Prime Minister Mark Carney before being formally confirmed by the party to seek the seat.
The vacancy follows the departure of longtime Liberal MP Jonathan Wilkinson, who left Parliament last month to become Canada’s ambassador to the European Union. An election date has not yet been set. Under federal rules, the vote could land later this year and must be held no later than early February 2027.
Field takes shape: Liberals, Conservatives, Greens declare
With Caley now on the Liberal ticket, the slate of declared contenders includes Stephen Curran for the Conservative Party of Canada and Shelley Luce for the Green Party of Canada. Curran, a North Shore business lawyer, ran for the Conservatives in the 2025 federal election, finishing second behind Wilkinson. Luce previously served as director of campaigns for Sierra Club BC, according to the Greens.
- Liberal Party: Braeden Caley
- Conservative Party: Stephen Curran
- Green Party: Shelley Luce
What the parties are saying
Caley framed his bid around affordability, growth and infrastructure on the North Shore, stating:
“I’m running to be the strongest voice for the hardworking people of North Vancouver-Capilano as part of Mark Carney’s new Liberal team, and to deliver on your priorities — building a stronger, more sustainable economy, bringing down costs, and building the local infrastructure and homes we need for a growing North Shore.”
Liberal Party president Sachit Mehra said Caley brings long experience in government and campaigns:
“Braeden Caley has spent his career turning ambitious ideas into real results for Canadians and he has the experience needed to deliver the serious solutions this crucial moment demands. Braeden will work tirelessly with Mark Carney and our new Liberal team in Parliament to build a stronger, safer, and more prosperous future for the hardworking people of North Vancouver-Capilano.”
Previous results underscore uphill task for challengers
In the last federal contest, Wilkinson secured a significant margin over Curran. Those results will inform party strategies as they work to mobilize voters in a lower-turnout by-election environment.
| Candidate (2025) | Party | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Wilkinson | Liberal | 37,909 |
| Stephen Curran | Conservative | 21,339 |
The shift from a general election to a by-election typically places a premium on local organization, name recognition and volunteer capacity. With the seat now open, the Liberals aim to defend long-held ground, while the Conservatives and Greens seek to convert momentum and visibility into ballots cast.
Implications for North Vancouver residents
The by-election will determine who represents the riding in Ottawa on files that matter to the North Shore, including housing supply and affordability, transportation infrastructure and cost-of-living pressures. While party platforms and candidate proposals have yet to be fully rolled out for this race, the outcome will influence how federal programs and funding streams engage with municipal and provincial partners in the coming months.
With a date still to be announced, parties are expected to accelerate nomination sign-offs, campaign staffing and voter outreach. Residents of North Vancouver-Capilano should expect increased door-knocking and public events once the writ is issued, as well as advance and mail-in voting options when they become available under Elections Canada timelines.
