B.C. Premier David Eby has called a snap election, two years ahead of schedule.
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B.C. is headed to the polls early.
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Premier David Eby has announced a snap provincial election, set to take place on Oct. 24, just one week after B.C.’s civic elections.
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The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon at a news conference set at Victoria’s Government House, the official residence of the lieutenant-governor. There, Eby shared that his request to B.C. Lt.-Gov. Wendy Cocchia to dissolve legislature and head to the polls had been granted.
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Much of Eby’s address leaned into “elbows-up” messaging, calling it “an existential moment” for British Columbians.
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“The prime minister has called this a rupture and he is absolutely right,” said Eby. “Donald Trump is attacking our workers. He’s targeting our businesses, and he is threatening our sovereignty.
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“He’s threatening our ability to make decisions for ourselves, who do we buy from, about the direction we set. This is exactly what Trump wants. He wants to weaken us. He wants to divide us. He wants to drive up our costs and put our businesses and our workers at risk.”
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Eby went on to evoke imagery of a wildfire in his address, likening B.C. Conservatives to U.S. Republicans and noting that B.C. “can’t afford to spread the fire. We need to contain it.”
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“Stand up. Protect. Build. That’s how we respond when the conditions change. That is how we build the firebreak,” he said.
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“That’s how we make sure British Columbians and our province are ready for whatever comes next. That is my plan and we’re making progress.”
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Eby also held strong on the decision to keep American liquor off B.C. shelves, “not a drop of Jack Daniels until there is a fair deal for B.C. forest families.”
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“These are real people, these are real jobs, these are our neighbours,” he said. “These are the communities that are the foundation of our province.”
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The B.C. NDP leader did admit “there is so much more work to do.”
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“The job is far from done,” he said. “But if we accept those who want to turn British Columbia into America Junior, if we accept that path, then we put all of this at risk.”
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The snap election comes two years ahead of schedule and was announced amid turmoil within B.C. Conservative ranks that has led to an exodus of MLAs in recent months.
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After Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s resignation on Sunday as party leader, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson was named interim leader. His first order of business Monday was to welcome defectors back into the party’s fold.
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Meanwhile, eight other former B.C. Conservative MLAs had joined forces as part of a new centre right party. The unnamed party later announced it would be merged under Mike Bernier’s CentreBC banner, in anticipation of the snap election’s announcement. Bernier also stepped aside to allow Peter Milobar to serve as leader of the newly amalgamated group.
