After nearly five and a half years as the Member of Parliament for Skeena-Bulkley Valley, Taylor Bachrach is in a reflective mood.

Bachrach was unseated by his Conservative opponent Ellis Ross in the April 28, 2025 federal election. Black Press Media caught up with Bachrach just days after the election to ask about his time as an MP and his plans going forward.

Despite the outcome, Bachrach said he was proud of the campaign his team ran, calling it the best they鈥檇 ever done.

鈥淔or five weeks, I just stayed on the road and tried to get to every corner of the riding,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was lifted up and carried by the hundreds of incredible volunteers that stepped forward.鈥�

Bachrach, first elected in October 2019, pointed to the size of the riding 鈥� as large as Poland 鈥� and the challenge of representing such a vast and remote region.

鈥淚've spent about 200 days a year away from home in order to visit every single remote community,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 been one of the most rewarding aspects of the work.鈥�

Looking at the election results, he said the response from First Nations communities stood out.

鈥淚 think the numbers, when the final numbers are released, we'll see that voter turnout was up in many First Nations communities,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he people I spoke to really felt that there was a lot at stake in this election.鈥�

Reflecting on his time in office, Bachrach said he was proud of his promise to 鈥渟how up for people.鈥� For him, that meant more than physically being present 鈥� it meant listening.

鈥淥ne of my mentors, Bill Goodacre, instilled years ago the idea that we can be passionate about the issues, but we should treat our neighbours with dignity and respect,鈥� he said.

There were hard moments too, including long stretches away from family.

鈥淚 don't think any of us regret the choices that we made as a family, but we're all acutely aware that it came at a cost,鈥� he said.

The pandemic was an especially jarring period for Bachrach as a new MP. Sworn in just months before COVID-19 hit, Bachrach found himself scrambling to serve constituents remotely.

鈥淚 started doing Facebook Live calls on a bi-weekly basis, sharing information from public health officials and taking questions from residents,鈥� he recalled.

Parliament went virtual, with MPs voting over Zoom by unmuting themselves.

鈥淭here were 300 MPs sitting on Zoom with nothing to really do but wait鈥� there were impromptu hootenannies,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ne guy had a grand piano, Charlie Angus had his guitar. It was kind of heartwarming.鈥�

One of his most memorable 鈥� and chaotic 鈥� moments came when he was racing to help pass the Haida Nation Recognition Act. He got the call that it would be coming to a vote while he was driving between Smithers and Prince Rupert 鈥� without a jacket or tie, which are still required to speak in the House, even virtually.

鈥淪o I pulled into the Salvation Army thrift store鈥� there was one sport coat in my size that was probably the height of fashion in about 1979,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 bought it for $5, took it back to my constituency office, cut out the shoulder pads, threw on my assistant鈥檚 necktie, and logged in to Zoom just in time.鈥�

He was emotional when the motion passed unanimously.

Other highlights he recalled include helping Prince Rupert secure a record $77 million infrastructure grant, reopening post offices in South Bank and Atlin, and supporting dental and pharmacare through his party鈥檚 national negotiations.

鈥淚'm proud of the work we did together to stand up for rural communities and defend the services that people rely on,鈥� he said.

Asked about criticism and online vitriol, especially during the pandemic, he said he tried not to shut down emotionally.

鈥淭o be in politics, you need to have a thick skin 鈥� I think it's actually poor advice,鈥� he said. 鈥淏eing open to what people have to say鈥� that's been very important to me.鈥�

He also said the most important thing he learned came from conversations with those he disagreed with.

鈥淓veryone is more complex and nuanced than the stereotypes might suggest,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen we sit and talk with each other long enough to get to the underlying values, you find incredible commonality.鈥�

For now, Bachrach said he鈥檚 focused on family 鈥� his youngest daughter is graduating from high school this year and has a big role in a school theatre production.

鈥淚'm really loving being at home and spending time with them,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here will be a time when I reflect on what comes next鈥� but for now, I'm dreaming about some creative projects and spending more time in the mountains and on the river.

鈥淚 love the Northwest more than ever,鈥� he added. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 not going anywhere.鈥�