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Braeden Caley has won the federal byelection in the British Columbia riding of North Vancouver-Capilano, securing a seat in the House of Commons after stepping down from his role as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s deputy chief of staff. With more than 90 percent of polls reporting late Monday, Caley held a commanding lead over Conservative candidate Stephen Curran, a lawyer, and Green Party candidate Shelley Luce, a scientist and advocate.
Caley Claims Victory in Safe Liberal Riding
Caley arrived at his election night gathering just hours after polls closed and delivered a victory speech to supporters. He told the crowd that voters had chosen partnership over division at a time of economic uncertainty driven by ongoing trade tensions with the United States.
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He described the result as “an instruction to stand strong versus those unjust tariffs,” and pledged to focus on reducing costs for Canadians, expanding affordable housing, delivering infrastructure and addressing climate change. “With Mark Carney, we chose a plan to stand firmly behind our Canadian workers and businesses and importantly, to build Canada strong for all,” Caley said.
Prime Minister Carney quickly congratulated Caley following the confirmed result. “I know Braeden’s values, his work ethic and his character,” Carney said in a statement. “I look forward to collaborating with him again to build a stronger British Columbia and a stronger Canada, for the benefit of all.”
A Seat Vacated by a Cabinet Minister
North Vancouver-Capilano has long been considered a safe Liberal stronghold. Former cabinet minister Jonathan Wilkinson won the seat for a fourth consecutive time in the 2025 federal election before resigning in June to take up the role of Canada’s ambassador to the European Union.
Caley announced in July that he would leave his Ottawa post to contest the seat. He said he had considered the move for weeks before making it public, citing the opportunities he saw in the riding and across British Columbia more broadly.
Monday also saw byelections in the Toronto riding of Beaches-East York and the Quebec riding of Chicoutimi-Le Fjord. The Liberals won both contests, extending their recent electoral momentum.
British Columbia at the Centre of Canada’s Economic Future
In a pre-election interview, Caley emphasized British Columbia’s growing importance to Canada’s national economy. He noted that one-third of all projects referred to Canada’s major projects office for potential fast-tracking are located in the province.
“There are incredible intersections of opportunity right now to build much faster than we’ve ever been used to,” Caley said. He added that this growth should strengthen conservation areas and open new avenues of partnership with First Nations communities.
Caley also pointed to the riding’s strategic economic significance. North Vancouver-Capilano is home to the busiest port in Canada, and he highlighted the recent resurgence of the workforce at Seaspan Shipyards as evidence of the area’s industrial potential. “Any success on that front will depend on success being seen and felt in North Vancouver-Capilano,” he said.
Local Roots and a Long Road Back to B.C.
After spending much of the past decade in Ottawa, Caley said returning to British Columbia full time felt both meaningful and timely. Canada is actively reorienting its economy, investing in domestic industries and shifting exports away from dependence on the United States.
Caley credited his early career experience for shaping his approach to public service. He worked for six years in two different MPs’ constituency offices in British Columbia, including five years spent in opposition roles. He also worked in the office of Gregor Robertson, the former Vancouver mayor who now serves as federal housing minister.
Those experiences, Caley said, taught him to stay attuned to the everyday concerns of constituents. He warned that without genuine effort, the federal government can feel “very far away” from the people it serves.
Flanked by several British Columbia MPs, including Robertson, Caley told supporters Monday night that he understands how politics works — and how it sometimes fails people. He committed to ensuring that North Shore priorities reach the right decision-making tables in Ottawa.
The Liberal Party’s national polling numbers have strengthened since Carney walked away from trade negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump on August 21. Elections Canada reported that more than 16,000 people cast early ballots in North Vancouver-Capilano between that date and the following Monday. The House of Commons returns on September 21, with additional byelections expected in Saskatchewan, Quebec and Ontario in the months ahead.
