Braeden Caley, PM Carney's deputy chief of staff, runs for North Vancouver-Capilano
The Liberal candidate will represent the party in a federal by-election after Jonathan Wilkinson left to become ambassador to the European Union.
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Braeden Caley, a senior member of Prime Minister Mark Carney's inner circle, has been formally named the Liberal Party's candidate for the upcoming federal by-election in North Vancouver-Capilano.
Caley, who served as deputy chief of staff to Carney since March 2025, announced his decision earlier this week to leave his government role. A by-election was triggered after longtime Liberal MP Jonathan Wilkinson vacated the seat last month to become Canada's new ambassador to the European Union. The by-election date has yet to be announced, but the vote must be held no later than early February 2027.
Caley has spent more than two decades working in government and public policy. Born and raised in B.C., he began his career in the constituency offices of two Metro Vancouver MPs. From 2011 to 2016, working under the Vision Vancouver party, he served in the Vancouver mayor's office of Gregor Robertson, initially as press secretary and later as director of policy and communications.
He then moved to Ottawa to become Justin Trudeau's senior director of communications for the federal Liberal Party, before serving as president and CEO of Canada 2020, an independent progressive think tank. Caley was the national campaign director for Carney's successful bid to become federal Liberal leader in early 2025, and later served as the party's national campaign co-director for that year's federal election.
In his government role, Caley advised Carney on responses to U.S. tariffs and policies aimed at strengthening the Canadian economy, accelerating major projects, increasing housing construction, and reducing Canada's reliance on its southern neighbour.
"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," Caley said in a statement. The only other confirmed by-election candidate so far is Conservative Party candidate Stephen Curran, a North Shore business lawyer who finished second in the 2025 federal election with 21,339 votes behind Wilkinson's 37,909.
The facts
Who is running for the Liberals in the North Vancouver-Capilano by-election?
Braeden Caley, deputy chief of staff to Prime Minister Mark Carney, is the Liberal Party's candidate for the North Vancouver-Capilano by-election.
When must the North Vancouver-Capilano by-election be held?
The by-election must be held no later than early February 2027, though the exact date has not yet been announced.
What has Braeden Caley done in his career?
Caley has spent more than two decades in government and public policy, including roles as press secretary and director of policy and communications in Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson's office from 2011 to 2016, senior director of communications for the federal Liberal Party under Justin Trudeau, president and CEO of Canada 2020 think tank, national campaign director for Mark Carney's 2025 Liberal leadership bid, and national campaign co-director for the 2025 federal election.
