Premier Eby Calls Snap Election in British Columbia

British Columbia Premier David Eby has called an election just under two years into his mandate that will see voters heading to the polls on Oct. 24.

Eby met with B.C. Lt.-Gov. Wendy Cocchia at Government House in Victoria on Sept. 22 and asked her to dissolve the legislature, triggering the provincial election.

The election call comes amid leadership turmoil and defections within the Opposition B.C. Conservative Party, as well as ongoing economic tensions and trade disputes with the United States.

Eby cited the need for a new mandate that he said would provide economic stability for British Columbians amid the ongoing trade dispute with the United States.

“The conditions in our country have changed, and they’re changing quickly by the hour,” Eby said during a press conference, adding that government revenues have been “squeezed” by American tariffs.

“That is exactly why we need to act to protect British Columbians from the shocks coming from the United States, to lower the costs that people are facing.”

The official campaign begins immediately, leading up to election day on Oct. 24. This places the provincial vote just one week after B.C.’s local municipal elections on Oct. 17, a timing conflict that local government officials had previously asked Eby to avoid.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim criticized Eby’s snap election call, saying it serves no one “but the governing party’s own interest.”

“British Columbia has separate election cycles for a reason,” Sim said in a press release. “That principle shouldn’t be set aside because the timing looks politically convenient.”

Sim said calling the election now will also cost the province too much money at a time when it is “already carrying a record and growing deficit.”

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke also said in a statement that calling a provincial election during the municipal election “makes it that much harder to reach voters when turnout during municipal elections is already much lower than federal or provincial elections.”

Eby refuted suggestions that the election is about capitalizing on the turmoil within the Conservative party rather than U.S. tariffs.

“I don’t think it’s ever wrong to go to British Columbians to ask them what they think, what direction we should go,” Eby told reporters. “But in this moment, in this existential moment… this choice is one that should go to British Columbians.”

The snap election call catches the official Opposition in a state of leadership transition. Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned as leader of the BC Conservative Party on Sept. 20 following internal disputes and caucus departures that saw 14 MLAs leave her party during her four-month tenure. 

She had been set to run in a byelection in Abbotsford-Mission but that has now been cancelled due to the upcoming election.

Lorne Doerkson was named interim leader hours after Findlay resigned. Former leader John Rustad and former interim leader Trevor Halford, who were removed from the Conservative caucus last week, were asked to return. Some of the other MLAs who had left the party were also invited to rejoin the caucus.

Eby was questioned by reporters about the ethics of launching an election when the Conservatives don’t have an official leader. 

He said the Conservatives have “been in chaos every moment since the election,” adding that the party has “had four leaders in two years.” 

Eight former B.C. Conservative MLAs, led by Peter Milobar, have joined CentreBC, an established party that previously had no MLAs in the legislature, and are positioning it as an alternative to the NDP and Conservatives.

Former CentreBC leader Mike Bernier stepped aside last week to allow Milobar to take over as party leader. The eight MLAs had previously said they planned to form a new party, but instead joined CentreBC ahead of a potential snap election.

The legislature also includes two Green MLAs, while party leader Emily Lowan does not hold a seat. OneBC, led by Dallas Brodie, weathered considerable party turmoil last year that prompted former party colleague Tara Armstrong to leave in December 2025.

Brodie was a one-person party until Findlay’s husband and Surrey South MLA Brent Chapman announced he would join the party on Sept. 22.

The B.C. NDP holds 47 of the 93 seats in the Legislative Assembly, giving it a one-seat majority.

The last election was held on Oct. 19, 2024, putting Eby just one year and 11 months into his mandate.