I don't exactly know the pilot's decision basis, though I'm certain that restrictions on entering Canada were a factor - the border is technically closed. He probably wanted to fly from the US to the US, without stopping in Canada. Had he stopped in Canada, he would have been subject to at a minimum, a two week quarantine, and possibly being limited to landing in Vancouver only.
My guess would be that with a cabin tank, this was not the first time he'd flown this route, just the headwinds got him this time. The turn back makes me think that he decided that to run downwind back to Victoria as quarantine became more attractive than to continue into the wind with empty tanks, but it did not work. Sunset was probably a factor too. That is a very rugged route, with only a few airports along the way to divert to. Most of that route is only suitable to single engine VFR in the most favourable conditions....