Premier David Eby has called an early provincial election, less than two years after British Columbians last went to the polls.
Final voting day is Oct. 24.
Eby said in Victoria Tuesday that conditions have changed since 2024, with “existential” threats from the Trump administration and U.S. tariffs.
“British Columbians need a say, they deserve a say in what happens next. You deserve a say in the kind of province we’re going to build — a province that stands up for itself, or the kind of province that folds to Donald Trump,” said Eby.
Eby seemed to position threats from the U.S. as the defining issue of the election, referring repeatedly to Trump in his speech.
He employed a wildfire metaphor, vowing the B.C. NDP would “hold the line” against the spread of economic uncertainty from the U.S. and Trump-style politics that he says the Conservatives have embraced.
NDP cabinet ministers will not seek re-election
As of Tuesday afternoon, three NDP cabinet ministers said they will not be running for re-election.
Saanich South MLA Lana Popham, who served as agriculture minister, said Monday she would not seek a sixth term in office.
North Delta’s Ravi Kahlon also said Tuesday he won’t seek re-election, saying that after three election cycles, he believes it’s time for someone else to represent the riding.
Kahlon was recently appointed health minister, and previously served as minister of jobs and economic growth and housing minister.
Kelly Greene, who was minister of emergency management and climate readiness, also said she will not be running again for Richmond-Steveston.
In a statement, Greene reiterated her concerns about risks posed by the expansion of the Tilbury LNG facility in Delta and the impacts on nearby waterways.
New Conservative leader says party is united
The election call comes after weeks of turmoil among the Opposition B.C. Conservatives, including an exodus of 10 MLAs and the resignation of leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay less than four months into her tenure.
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson has been tapped as interim leader of the Conservatives.
Doerkson said in Vancouver Tuesday afternoon that, despite being an interim leader, he is running to be B.C.’s next premier.
He fielded questions about the recent upheaval in the party, saying the party is united and ready to take on the NDP.
“There’s no question that our caucus is a pretty lively caucus, but we are back together here today,” he said.
Doerkson said his top priority as leader is to repeal the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), which the Conservatives have long claimed creates more uncertainty in the province around title rights and investment.
He said the NDP’s policies have made B.C. more vulnerable to economic threats from the U.S. and rejected any associations with Trump.
“We will never, ever be the 51st state under my watch, and I am not going to support anything around that issue,” he said.
MLAs return to the Conservative fold
Several MLAs who quit the Conservative caucus in recent weeks have returned following Findlay’s resignation.
That includes seven who had said on Friday they were joining forces with CentreBC, led by Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar.
Multiple Conservatives have said there were ongoing discussions of a merger between the two parties, but CentreBC has indicated it remains a separate party.
Former Conservative-turned-Independent Elenore Sturko says she will remain a member of CentreBC.
Several other MLAs who left over issues with Findlay have since returned, including Linda Hepner, Scott McInnis and Brennan Day.
Trevor Halford, John Rustad and Claire Rattee, whom Findlay booted from the caucus last week, have also been readmitted.
Chapman joins OneBC
Meanwhile, Surrey South MLA Brent Chapman announced he was leaving the Conservatives to join OneBC.
Chapman, who is married Findlay, said the Conservative party is no longer the party he joined 15 years ago and says he can’t continue to be part of it.
Leader Dallas Brodie welcomed Chapman as the second elected MLA in OneBC.
Findlay won’t run for the Conservatives
Reanne Gasper resigned her Abbotsford-Mission seat in August so that Findlay could run in a byelection. That byelection has now been nullified by the provincial election call.
Doerkson confirmed that Findlay would not be running in the general election under the Conservative banner.
Findlay hasn’t confirmed whether she still plans to run in the riding.
Municipalities criticize concurrent elections
Local government officials with the Union of B.C. Municipalities criticized Eby last week for mulling a provincial election at the same time as municipal elections are underway.
General voting day for local elections is Oct. 17.
Outgoing UBCM president Cori Ramsay has said a provincial campaign will overshadow local issues and potentially confuse voters.
