David Eby knows very well that, under British Columbia’s historical four-year election cycle, 47 months are available to provincial governments to call elections; but ONE month … the four weeks mid-September to mid-October are when municipal election campaigns take place around the province.
The BC Government’s own website states “General local elections are held every four years on the third Saturday in October”. That is provincial law!
Candidates offering themselves for local councils work really hard during that campaign period to get themselves known, put forward policies, put up their signs, do door-knocking etc. in the hope of getting elected.
But in a fit of desperation, Eby appears ready and willing to step all over local governments … and call another BC provincial election, less than two years since the last one … right in the middle of the municipal election cycle!
Friday, the Premier tossed out a “red herring” to British Columbians, suggesting the stability of the provincial government could be in jeopardy, because of the recent death of one NDP MLA from cancer and the fact that two others also have cancer.
What a crock!
How little faith Eby seems to have in BC’s health care system! Having cancer is no longer a death sentence … cancer survivors can live many full, happy years … as is hopefully the case of the two MLAs he cited! The Premier should be more positive!
So ask any British Columbian WHY Eby may spend $85 Million of taxpayers’ money to send voters to the polls again less than two years after the last election … and they’ll tell you:
Because the Opposition Conservatives are in total chaos:
Because the other opposition parties and independents have not yet come together in a cohesive coalition; and,
Because Eby knows his government is so unpopular on the economy, the debt, the deficit, crime, health care, DRIPA etc. etc… he’d best call the vote NOW and dare not wait for the opposition parties to unite, raise funds and find candidates.
The hypocrisy of Eby/NDP in not just admitting these truths when pressed repeatedly by the media is not only disappointing, but another insult to BC voters.
This is NOT the time to call a BC provincial election campaign.
In his speech to the Union of BC Municipalities last Friday, the Premier lavished praise on the local and regional elected officials attending, acknowledging their important roles in being a voice for their communities, delivering critical services and being on the front line when emergencies/crises arise.
He should have come clean and added ” But to save my own skin and that of my very unpopular government, I may screw all of you and, during what is normally YOUR time, take over the public’s attention, the media focus, the volunteer workers, so I can make all kinds of promises and throw up thousands of provincial election signs all around the province to cause lots of confusion and hopefully get- re-elected before the opposition get their act together”.
Even I would have respected that frankness/honesty!
“Eby says no decision made yet on whether to call snap election,” the CBC reported.
No decision yet? Really?
It sure sounded to me Friday like the 2026 Fall Provincial Election campaign has already begun.
“Premier David Eby drew cheers at the Union of B.C. Municipalities Conference in Vancouver on Friday when he announced his government is suspending its expansion of the provincial sales tax to professional services that was scheduled to take place Oct. 1,” The Vancouver Sun reported. (Details here: https://vancouversun.com/news/bc-premier-david-eby-slams-brakes-expanding-pst-professional-services.)
And there was this too:
“Without giving more details, Eby also promised to ask B.C. Ferries to build its next generation of ferries in B.C., seeking to address an uproar from labour groups that the next four ferries are being built in China,” the Victoria Times Colonist added. (Full story: https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/eby-halts-professional-services-pst-expansion-calls-for-bc-ferries-to-build-at-home-12798018).
Cancel taxes. Build BC Ferries in BC. Sure sounds like election promises!
So much for the sanctity of BC’s “fixed election date” legislation … so often quoted by NDP politicians, sycophants and supporters when BC’s deficit hit a new record, the debt exploded, the province’s credit rating fell for the fourth time in five years and critics called for an early election!
If Eby has no compunction about spending $85 Million of public money for another provincial election so soon, he should at least delay the announcement until AFTER Oct 17, municipal voting day to respect those who serve BC’s local governments.
That would be the decent thing to do.
Harv Oberfeld
🇨🇦🇨🇦Check those labels! BUY CANADIAN!🇨🇦🇨🇦
(Follow @harveyoberfeld on “X” for FREE First Alerts to new postings on the Blog.)
Another great post by the thorn in Harvey’s side.
DRIPA is under the radar with most voters and/or BC citizens is because a) they do not know about it because they are not immediately impacted by it and it is too deep to fully understand an b) there are many more pressing issues facing all segments of our population.
Several friends with waterfront property have seen their assets diminish under threat of, not just FN takeover, but FN having a loud voice in foreshore policy. Ironically some of those folks think of Eby as being Trump lite, because of his dictatorial, flip-flopping principles. That he has called this election shows how self centred and out of touch he is.
I think my three main concerns are fairly common. Take care of the deficit, then in time healthcare and housing will improve. Cost of living is not a local issue.
I can’t not vote.
I will not vote NDP.
Greens are still one-track fringe.
I don’t trust that the conservatives to mature sensibly.
I’ve reached out to CentreBC to let me know ASAP who their candidate will be in my riding, with an eye to working for that individual, should I get even a mildly warm feeling about them.
I’m at sea and may yet change my mind on point 1.
(Response: This election’s outcome could be determined by which bigger party (NDP or Conservative) can make the stronger coalition or supportive agreement with smaller parties, like CentreBC, OneBC, Greens etc.) As I’ve written before, I don’t usually mind minority governments, but this time, only if it’s a Conservative one: I just don’t want another NDP regime under Eby. (BC is already paying more than $6 Billion a year just in interest for the deficits/debt (will hit $183 Billion by 2026) he has run up along with the SIX reductions in BC’s Credit rating on his watch!) Enough! Ho)
Lorne Doerkson was particularly disappointing this morning with his condemnation of the protests on the Kamloops Native Band. Do we really think he’ll stand with other conservatives and promote an end to DRIPA?
(Response: I too would condemn a bunch of hooded or masked men showing up at a reserve or anywhere. That seems to me to be more designed to intimidate than just a protest. As for Doerkson, I have no doubt a Conservative government would repeal DRIPA very quickly. Ho)
You and DMJ think Dripa is the most important issue. Not according to the Angus Reid poll.
https://angusreid.org/ballot-backlash-bc-conservatives-open-8-point-lead-after-snap-election-call-but-electorate-far-from-locked-in/#arit-p2
I scrolled quickly, stopping at whatever seemed of interest. It is worth reading but I will save you some time by cutting and pasting this question.
Now, thinking ahead to the election, which of the following issues would you say are the most important to you when it comes to deciding which party and candidate to support?
Cost of living/Inflation 59%
Health Care 42%
The Economy/Jobs 28%
Housing Affordability 25%
Street crime/Public safety 25%
The Deficit/Government spending 24%
The U.S. tariffs/Donald Trump/alcohol ban 15%
Environment/Climate change 14%
First Nations/Indigenous issues/ DRIPA 13%
Drug Use/addictions/opioid crisis 13%
Poverty/homelessness 12%
Energy policy – Oil & Gas/Pipelines 11%
People are more concerned about US tariffs/Donald Trump than they are Dripa.
It was too hard to cut and paste four columns so you will have to scroll to see how people who intended to vote for the Conservatives, NDP, and Greens prioritized these issues, Dripa for example was listed by 22% of Conservatives to the NDP 4%. But here are the top three concerns for each party’s supporters.
Conservatives – cost of living 55% deficit 44% health care 37%
NDP – cost of living 62% health care 51% Donald Trump (lol) 31%
Greens – cost of living 56% health care 45% environment 40%
Except for my lol that seems like pretty good priorities.
Lots of other stuff in that report if you want a deeper dive.
One last comment. Brian Lilley posted a picture of Lorne Doerkson at the BC Lions game with Christy Clark. I read a few of the comments that followed. It seems some people who support the Conservatives are concerned that Doerkson is too Liberal if he is hanging out with Clark and that OneBC might be an option.
In the Angus Reid poll when given the choice of why they are voting for a particular party only 44% of Conservatives said they really liked the party and what it stood for compared to 57% of NDP supporters and 72% of Greens. The other choice was to keep a party from getting elected. Overall 39% of voters don’t think there is a good option. I wonder how that compares to other provinces during recent elections.
(Response: Yes, I’m well aware that the polls are showing other areas are of higher priority for most voters. I understand: if people can’t afford groceries or have health concerns, those issues would cry our more for action. However, I believe that in the long run for BC, DRIPA is a continuing danger to property rights, investment and social harmony. The government and the First Nations say No Worry …for private properties. I don;t buy it: remember ALL parties voted for DRIPA in the belief that its was highly symbolic and even public lands were in no danger. NOT!! I believe there is NO guarantee that even public lands are safe from an “FN tax” or even takeover: all it takes is one activist judge making one activist decision! Better to REPEAL it now … ALL of it, which will still allow discussions/negotiations/agreements fair to all sides. Ho)
Broadway Subway no money for businesses yet $100 K a month to house one person in SRO, $90 million for unnecessary election and on and on.
Maybe Christine Boyle can explain all that especially as her office is right on Broadway were all the businesses are closing resulting in many lost jobs. How did Trump cause that?????
(Response: Perhaps she’s not worried about the TOTAL absence of support/compensation for Broadway businesses (or Cambie earlier) because she personally does not have to pay her rent, or pay her own salary or her staff salaries or her Hydro etc. etc: the taxpayers pay it all? Ho)
According to my sources back East, people in the industry who advise the group I belong to, Rail for the Valley, the cost of the Broadway subway will be between $3.5 billion to $4 billion; an around 50% increase in costs. Similar cost cancellations for the Expo Line extension as well.
When we start adding in the cost escalations in the various mega projects in the region; 50% for Broadway subway, a 400% escalation with the Langley extension, a 100% cost escalation with the #1 highway rehab/HOV lane; and the cost escalations withe the needless Massey Tunnel replacement now estimated to cost $10 billion and a bridge even more, the list goes on and on.
A lot of these costs cannot be blamed on the NDP directly as tariffs, transport costs and material costs have risen dramatically (cement increases around 2.5 times the cost of inflation) the mega projects cost rise as well.
Around 10 years ago I was asked to give a presentation the the Broadway BIA about subway construction, invited by a former business owner on Cambie, relocated to West Broadway. At the end I was asked a question about the Broadway subway and lease renewal and I said, and quite correctly as it turns out; “I would not sign any long term lease with any landlord anywhere near subway construction. Either negotiate a subway construction escape clause or consider moving.”
I think more very bad SkyTrain news is coming this spring and Eby was faced with the spectre of a 2001 fiasco if he went to the polls next spring or summer.
An Angus Reid survey says two thirds of those asked were against an election call now which aligns with the comments here. History and the way back machine may show this to be the biggest case of political suicide in BC and it might prevent the NDP from returning to government for a long time.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-poll-shows-two-thirds-not-in-favour-of-early-election-9.7357659
(Response: I’m actually impressed by how knowledgeable the electorate are: they are not buying into the Trump excuse for calling it now .. less than two years into a mandate, with a majority! Maybe they are aware that in just four years, Eby has run up the province’s debt from $89.4 Billion in Nov ’22, when he became Premier, to a projected $183 Billion for 2026-2027 … DOUBLE … without much to really show for it in solving BC’s many problems. Ho)
DRIPA, that is the main concern of everyone I talk with and if you defer taxes, compounding interest is another slap to the face to the boomers.
I have noticed lately that the Gen X’s and Millennials are now blaming the Boomers for everything. Yes, it’s all the Boomer’s (last fully analog generation) fault.
What astounds me is how completely out of touch Eby (a Gen X) is? It actually mind blowing.
(Response: I agree:Repealing DRIPA should be the BIGGEST issue in this provincial campaign. It has been a very strange start to a very strange election. One of the premier‘s first announcements was a new tax… on empty condos. Geez! I know the NDP cabinet and caucus is not exactly Chuck full of business minds, but surely they understand that every developer wants to do is sell the suites they have built …if they can! But if no one is buying… how will adding another tax help? Or create jobs … other than for the government bureaucrats who will administer it? Ho)
2+2=5 Ebi possible reaction after calling election then Andrew weaver comes out of retirement
Strategic voting anyone?
https://m.youtube.com/shorts/jIWj6Unfy-4?ra=mJw
(Response: Actually, Weaver joining CentreBC along with Elinore Sturko and the Greens looking to win even two or three seats could give the NDP hope for another minority government opportunity under a split vote. Ho)
Judging from the 30 ( so far) comments….
I’d say that Eby grossly miscalculated voter anger before calling this unwanted, unnecessary election.
Voters are angry everywhere and when they get a chance to vote/voice their anger…
Hoo boy.
(Response: Even friends of mine who are staunch NDP supporters are disgusted by Eby’s move at this time. And what seems to bother them most is his excuse that he needs a mandate to fight Trump: no one I have talked to or heard from believes him on that … and, worse,it sounds like he (and NDP strategists ?)think BC voters are really stupid! Not a great set start to the campaign. Ho)
Adrian Dix sits in the same has been row as Kevin Falcon.
The “blame it on Trump” campaign will not resonate with voters. Yes, Trump is hated, but as Harvey pointed out, Carney has that one handled and Eby can do nothing to offset anything Trump will do..
That Eby would go to all this trouble and expense just to extend his current mandate by only two years is just bizarre.
I really am disgusted.
(Response: No one seems to be buying the excuse that Eby had to call the election for a mandate to fight Trump. And when NDP candidates say that, it damages their credibility as well as his. As for Dix, I had thought he was in a pretty safe, NDP writing, but when there is a massive shift in voter anger, anything can happen! Ho)
The Conservatives sure have a small window to get their act together to keep Eby in a bind. I’m hoping for at best so much vote splitting that it will lay waste to the selfish activist Eby and his NDP nuts who think it’s okay to give the entitled, troublemakers, activists and extremists and small minorities to get so much sway and say over the handling and distribution and siphoning of the majority of British Columbians revenues to their coffers.
(Response: Let’s keep it real… despite all the opposition parties, only the BC Conservatives have a real chance of winning enough seats to form government. So those who want the NDP gone have to choose: vote for the BC Conservatives (even if you have to hold your nose to do so) or give Eby/NDP another term. Ho)
The will for “political self preservation” is a very powerful force, apparently.
Eby saw an opportunity created by KLF & her crew and worried about his own shelf life, plunges us into a campaign after less than 50% of his mandated time, with a majority? What is in the water coolers in Victoria? Which ex-visionista hack cobbled this strategy together? Arguably, Eby has far more to lose than he stands to gain, the “Laws of unintended consequences” respect no one!
DRIPA, Forestry mess (a reality up in the hinterlands), No inquiry into Metro Van’s sewage fiasco (Overseen by a labor backed hack who just walked the plank…), Chinese Ferries, Massey/Deas maybe by 2035, at what cost, Skytrain, Lack of highway infrastructure, Addicts, Crime, urban ruin, 3 ministers cutting trail, all may eventually cost Eby, I think he’s bonkers. Even my “progressive” friends cannot explain this one?
Trump as a campaign trigger? That’s just way too stunned for any sane adult with a low double digit IQ to miss…….
(Response: The worst thing for any politician is to be laughed at: and I found myself laughing this morning when Adrian Dix appeared on the Mike Smyth show on CKNW and kept trying to blame Trump for the election. Smyth kept pointing out that BC had six credit rating drops under Eby and 21 forest mill closures with the loss of 15,000 jobs… And the NDP cant honestly blame Trump for all of that.Hilarious! Ho)
The stupidest thing about this whole thing is he’s going to lose.
(Response: You never know… Election campaigns take on a whole life of their own: one knockout punch in the debate or one terrible gaffe can change the trajectory even just days before the vote. And then there is the danger of a split vote… between the opposition parties or the NDP/Green supporters. That’s why I enjoy watching it all so much! Ho)
Keith makes some very good points, many of which I have also been pondering.
I find Ravi Kahlon’s departure intriguing. A former NDP bright light, once touted by John Horgan as Premier material, was he caught off guard? Does he see a problem with Eby? How many more will leave the ship, in the coming days?
And would Lorne Doerksen rather be anointed leader, rather than face the same crowd who elected Findlay? That bunch is a force unknown.
And oddly enough there are more than a few supporters of Dallas Brodie.
Could we see a mass “anyone but NDP” event?
(Response: The NDP will still have its staunch supporters and guaranteed wins in many ridings… and there will also be the guaranteed Socred/Liberal/Conservative ridings. But I do sense there will be many more writings in play this time, based on Evie’s personal unpopularity, Emergency closures, crime, the unjustifiable election call and his refusal to repeal DRIPA.
As for Ravi Kahlon, I still suspect he has leadership interest himself, but doesn’t want to stick around waiting another four years if Eby wins, and realizes if he takes a break, he can always stage a welcome comeback if Eby loses. Ho)
I’m in the camp of hoping for an NDP minority govt. and really hoping that Eby loses his seat, no point in rehashing the myriad of reasons why that has already been covered, except the self serving nature of the election announcement. For Eby, the polling etc. is as good as it’s going to get for him, can’t find another valid reason. I wonder how many NDP M.L.A.s are sweating their election chances with Eby on the ballot in an election that didn’t need to happen.
A couple of things struck me with the Tuesday presser of the latest conservatives : when asked who would be premier if the conservatives won Lorne Doerksen said he would be which I found astounding. No process or internal vote for who would be leader, or had that been decided behind closed doors.? I understood he would be the interim leader.
https://vancouversun.com/news/who-is-lorne-doerkson-meet-the-bc-conservatives-new-interim-leader.
In the previous evenings presser by Peter Milobar before the merging of the two groups, Elenor Sturko was behind Milobar smiling from ear to ear. Next day after the merger with Doerksen as leader, she wanted no part of that and is now with Centre B.C.
https://surreynowleader.com/2026/09/22/surreys-elenore-sturko-is-the-sole-incumbent-mla-for-centrebc-ahead-of-election/
In one of your previous posts Harvey I wrote I would like to see the conservatives in whatever form sit in opposition for the next legislature and still believe that. Before the last election the conservatives at the time were making all the right noises as they are now. Trevor Halford did an excellent job keeping the party looking good until the wheels came off when the full mooners began the mayhem, the best ones being the private investigator issue and Rustad searching phones both quietly slipped under the rug. Problem is, all those folks are still around in one of the right wing variations, the only thing that has changed is the deck chairs have been shuffled. And now those parties have to find candidates to run in the provincial constituencies, fund raise and get their campaigns up and running in a month, hardly enough time to check out their social media history and backgrounds. I can’t vote for that.
(Response: Interestingly, today the NDP issued a press release, saying that for Doerksen to stay as BC Conservative leader, it will require a constitutional amendment and vote by the party after the election. That would be fascinating if he won the election but lost that vote! However I would think that if he won the election, the party would likely support his bid to remain as leader… But this is BC, who knows what might happen! Ho)
Looks like disgraceful and disrespectful Eby is dissolving Parliament just like Horgan did. When leaders do these things, it’s always like a reconfirmation of how much they don’t give a damn about the public they serve . Look out for more ripping off and funneling even more of the peoples revenues to the activist NDPs small minorities of special interests when he likely wins. Or, maybe not. Wait for the great screw over now for British Columbians if he does.
(Response: what I find interesting and somewhat funny is that the province’s fixed election law was actually brought in by the BC Liberals in 2001, with elections every four years in May. Then the NDP in 2017 changed the law to make the elections in October, but still every four years. However, when expedient, both Horgan and Eby have now ignored the very law they helped establish! So what’s the point of even having it on the books??? Ho)
So, here we have it, Eby broke the law, to have an election when it is convenient for him, again, to emphasize your observation, “So what’s the point of even having it on the books?”
When the premier breaks the law, why bother having laws? Eby becomes more Trumpian by the minute!
(Response: It may end up being a disastrous move politically (or a brilliant one),and Yes does seem a bit Trumpian, but it is not illegal. The legislation does allow the premier to visit the Governor General and ASK for an election earlier. But really, what is the point of having fixed date “legislation” if it is so easily ignored? Ho)
We have plenty of time to rip into the NDP record as the election moves along.
But right now I am absolutely dumbfounded by this election call. Does anybody here have a logical reason why Eby called it.
1. He is using Trump. He says he needs a mandate. I don’t see it. Mark Carney who was elected with a minority and only got his majority through defections and by election wins says he has a mandate to do all the things he has been doing to diversify our trade to other countries. And he is right. Look at the polls. What mandate does Eby need after winning an actual majority although slim. And the NDP has also benefited from a defection.
2. The opposition is in chaos. That should mean that they are weak in the legislature. Passing whatever legislation Eby needs would be easier. Instead, the opposition in preparation for this election are coming together.
3. Then there are the conspiracy types that say he is just doing this to save his job. He already has a job for two more years. Plenty of time to do stuff. And if he can’t do it in two years what makes him think he can do it in four.
.Dumbfounding. With an emphasis on the first syllable. Please explain.
I am with Stu. I am hoping for a minority government. And irony of ironies, the NDP will win the most seats. But immediately lose a confidence vote. The Conservatives and Centre BC will come up with some confidence and supply agreement so we can rehash 2017 all over again. And however long that lasts we will at least see how centre Centre BC actually is before the next election in a couple of years.
(Response: You want “logic”? In today’s BC politics? How logical was it for the government to spend more than $100 million to buy up hotels on Granville Street, Vancouver prime retail/entertainment area , and put hundreds of homeless, mentally ill people and druggies in them? How can anyone explain the logic of ALL parties adopting DRIPA as law, without fully exploring and understanding the profound dangers/costs/implications of the move? How logical was it for the BC conservatives, with victory almost in their grasp if they remained moderate, to choose Kerry Lynne Findlay as their leader? Logic has escaped them all.
As for your specific points, the Trump excuse is a red herring: the federal government handles Canada‘s international relations, and I can’t see how re-electing Eby/NDP will send shivers down the spine of Trump.
Point 2: I believe this is the real reason the election was called: Eby was worried that with time the opposition would come together, get better known (less scary) and have enough time to come up with comprehensive policies/platform and gain popularity.
Point 3: What makes you think another two years would enable him to improve things? Eby has been premier since November 2022… That’s almost 4 years and as far as I can see so much in BC is worse! Another term, however, would give him four more years of work, to enjoy power and a chance to feather his own nest and pension even more.
Although it scares me what BC might be like by that time! Ho)
Ha, ha, ha Eby has become BC’s Trump – “election laws, what election laws?”
Eby is all about power and nothing more and he is far more damaging to BC than Trump could be.
Where was Eby a year and a half ago? Nowhere, no comment nothing and only when American relations went from bad to worse, there was Eby, johnny come lately to the party.
Reelecting Eby has nothing to do about workers, rather it is part of Eby’s and the NDP’s land grabs for the first nations. Hid governments done nothing for pensioners but screw them for more money to fund his politically prestigious mega projects which is a payoff for union worker support.
I did not vote in the last provincial election because I strongly felt both Eby and Rustad unfit for office but I am damned sure I will be voting in this election.
Eby is now part of that growing cadre of politicians who believe democracy is only for one day, voting day and after that is do as I say, cough up more dough and i don’t care because Eby, like Trump, just loves stupid voters, so easy to con.
(Response: Less than an hour after Eby spoke, I received a Press Release from NDP Communications (I’m supposed to be retired!) deriding the re-unification of BC Conservative and CentreBC candidates, titled ” “I’m not going back to the Conservative Party” and other things CentreBC MLAs have said ahead of merger.” The first line: “Asked yesterday on RED FM if he’d consider a merger with the B.C. Conservative Party, Peter Milobar warned the party was still controlled by Kerry-Lynne Findlay and her supporters”. Looks like things said by those who left the Conservatives and then returned will come back to haunt them. Meanwhile, Eby/NDP are making it sound like they need voter support to fight Trump. But I think most voters will be more interested in the NDP’s record and what exactly their opponents would do to solve BC’s BIG problems. Ho)
I cast my first BC ballot in 1968, have voted in every election since and with very few exceptions voted NDP. I was a union man (president of a Steelworkers Local), supported the NDP at BC Fed conventions and, living in Coquitlam at the time, worked on Dave Barrett’s 1972 campaign. I was a card carrying member for about 10 years.
I was, for a few years, a non-union management employee and for 22 years operated a small business which was at times denied contracts by certain other businesses simply because I supported the NDP.
Throughout those 58 years, I have been extremely angry and disgusted with many politicians.
𝗡𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗘𝗯𝘆.
Going against his staunch commitment to govern through good and bad to the fixed election date of October 2028, by calling an unnecessary snap election just 2 years in, is to me, a sinister and sleezy move.
Laying so much at Trump’s feet is not sellable; BC was in trouble before Trump conveniently came along and Not Sure has easily explained away that reddest of red herrings.
I have three choices; no vote, a spoiled ballot or vote for the non NDP candidate who most appeals to me based on character, a history of honesty and community commitments.
I don’t care who runs for the NDP in my riding or how popular they might be, 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗡𝗗𝗣.
My hope is for a minority, which will likely lead to another election within 2 years, but I can live with that. I also hope David Eby is rejected in his riding.
That’s how pissed I am.
(Response: As I have written before, I find the NDP of David Eby is not the middle class voice it used to be, when I started voting NDP in Saskatchewan and BC decades ago. I’ve also voted Liberal, Conservative even Green over the years. For me, today’s NDP is too ideologically extreme, less working class, more elitist, even arrogant, with no business sensitivity (ask the retailers on Granville Street .. or other urban areas around BC … whose investments, hard work, customers’ and employees’ safety were sacrificed for the benefit of the homeless, druggies, thieves, crazies), and look at the endless pandering and massive give-aways of land/$$$ to First Nations/DRIPA. Now, there’s $85 million in a gamble to save Eby’s job … but not a dime to help any of the dying (and sadly, some already dead) businesses and jobs along the Broadway subway corridor! That’s not a party for me … deserving another term. Ho)
Les Leyne.
https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/les-leyne-kerry-lynne-findlay-fulfils-her-prophecy-she-went-nowhere-12805423
Just a few hours ago I wrote: “I am typing this Tuesday morning. There is still no election call and there may never be one until 2028 for all we know.” LOL That did not age well.
Eby says “For British Columbians and for Canadians, this is an existential moment. Donald Trump is attacking our workers, he’s targeting our businesses, he’s threatening our ability to make decisions for ourselves.”
All true but we have a Prime Minister who is doing his best to lead that fight. We have premiers including yourself that have partnered with Carney to fight this threat. How exactly is an election – likely a divisive one – going to make any difference regardless of outcome.
Eby again. I don’t think it’s ever wrong to go to British Columbians to ask them what they think,”
True dat. But in our system, the NDP historically gets 40% of the vote. Maybe they get a majority with that but 60% still voted against them. How does that affect your decision making about what British Columbians think.
And as chaotic as the opposition seems to be, they still have a fighting chance. There are 40+ people already sitting MLAs. The groups in opposition just don’t run candidates against those MLAs to prevent vote splitting. And maybe they can agree to run only one candidate in toss up ridings.
Not only is Eby ignoring fixed election dates. He might be ignoring common sense as well.
(Response: This is getting hilarious! Now Milobar has quit as Centre BC leader and is returning to the Conservatives. Whatever happened to people joining a party because they believed in THAT party’s ideology, principles? Or are they all so “flexible” that they join, then quit, then rejoin, cross the floor etc … all based on their own interests and chances of gaining power. (Remember David Emerson?) If those of us who are political junkies find it hard to follow .. imagine what the average voter … more worried about working, just paying their bills… must be thinking today! Or tomorrow when who knows what may next happen. Ho)
What kind of politicians are we electing. Now our Premier has called an election for Oct 24th
Man this call is going to confuse the electorate….
It will sure be an interesting result. Think this call will hurt the local elections
Oh well…..it is what it is. A chance to kick the NDP in the ass and out!
(Response: I can hardly wait to see all the “Elect Me” signs lining the roads! Who’s running for what? In which election? For which party? Ho)
So far nobody on this blog is suggesting that the NDP/Eby should call an election at this time. My reason is that it would break the fixed election date because if Eby were forced to abide by it, then all the other reasons -unfair to municipal elections and the opposition and the $85M cost – wouldn’t apply. There would be no election.
Do we want to have fixed election dates or not? And the reason I ask…
Back in 2022/23, many people were demanding that new leader of the NDP and thus premier David Eby call an election. There is nothing in the charter or the elections act or anywhere including precedent that says a newly elected party leader who becomes premier has to call an election but some felt Eby should have called one. At no time was an $85M price tag a concern. At no time was the embattled BC United a concern. If I recall, Harvey, you were of the opinion that Eby would win easily and would regret not calling an election. And you were right. Eby saved us $85M and allowed the fledgling Conservatives a chance to reorganize resulting in the NDP winning a one seat majority instead of a bigger one if he had called an early election.
We can’t have it both ways. People are saying Eby can call an election in the spring and avoid conflicts with the municipal elections. Getting rid of the conflict with municipal elections is a no brainer, but a spring election will still cost us $85M and the whatever party may still be floundering. And if it isn’t and the polls show the NDP losing, Eby isn’t going to call an election. And the same people will be complaining that he should like they are complaining now that he shouldn’t.
Just getting rid of the complaining is a great reason for fixed election dates.
Eby has claimed that it isn’t a bad idea to ask the people for advice (an election mandate) and specifically mentioned Trump. But again, and I am not the most cynical person in the world but let’s keep it real: Eby would only be asking for this advice if he were certain that he had a good chance of winning. He isn’t going to ask for advice when the outcome will be “get lost”
Should governments have to power to call elections at the most advantageous time or do we want fixed elections dates? I am typing this Tuesday morning. There is still no election call and there may never be one until 2028 for all we know. But the possibility has upset a lot of people and for good reason. Fixed elections dates would prevent all this unnecessary chatter and put the focus back on dealing with the important issues that confront us.
Slightly off topic but here’s a possible wrinkle. Back in 2023 there was a court case challenging Horgan’s early election call. The court denied the challenge.
“The province’s election law, they wrote, confirms that an election must be held on fixed dates every four years rather than the maximum of five under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms — but that the date is subject to the lieutenant governor’s prerogative to dissolve the legislature at an earlier date.”
https://globalnews.ca/news/10077028/bc-2020-election-court-challenge/
If Eby does ask for an election, does the prerogative of the lieutenant governor mean she could say no? Wouldn’t that be fun.
(Response: Many good points here. Fixed elections do indeed establish a degree of certainty and even equal fairness to all parties. However, there are certain exceptions where a snap election can be justified:loss of a confidence vote; loss of a referendum, replacement of a Premier; major policy shift or massive government project that alters/goes against previous policy. And then there’s political reality! As I have written before, I don’t really blame a premier or Prime Minister for taking advantage of a specific situation to seek a public mandate when the “going is really good” or he or she knows it’s going to be very bad in the future. I get it, BUT I want it to be a fair fight: not when the opposition is without a leader (for whatever reason); not when the municipal elections are being held; not in the dead of winter when campaigning, canvassing and even getting to the polls would be very very difficult.
etc. Yes, if Eby calls a vote in the Spring, the cost will still be $85 million… But at least the opposition (hopefully by that time) will have gotten its act together, the government will have had more time to see if he can resolve some of the problems that are still playing it and then it would be 2 1/2 years since the last election … not great, but at least more than halfway through the normal term. Ho)
This is a time when good old fashioned talk show radio would have a field day. Imagine what Webster would have said and how huge numbers of the public would be skewering Eby right now.
If he reads this blog, maybe it will give Eby cause for pause.
(Response: Webster would have had a field day with Eby, Findlay and the chaos that is BC government (health care, crime, the debt/deficit, DRIPA) and politics today. But Mike Smyth on CKNW is good too … so good, Findlay rebuffed several efforts to get her on the show, including last week when she agreed to appear, and then was a no-show and cancelled after her scheduled segment actually began. Ho)
I want leaders of all parties to respect fixed election dates. They should not invent excuses to call elections whenever it is to their advantage. If Premier Eby calls an early, unnecessary election, I hope the voters will punish him for the decision.
The $1.5 billion error in the estimate of natural gas royalty revenues is serious. Such incompetence shouldn’t be quickly forgotten. I won’t list all the problems with David Eby’s leadership, but I’ll say that John Horgan was a much better fiscal manager of the economy. I normally don’t have much positive to say about the NDP, but under John Horgan, the province actually had a surplus. Bill Vander Zalm was also fiscally responsible.
Kerry-Lynne Findlay clearly struggled. Unfortunately for her, she wasn’t able to keep the Conservatives united. I think she made the right decision, and I hope that voters will remove the NDP from power because they’ve already caused enough damage.
(Response: Times change, circumstances change but it is still hard to fathom how Eby turned Horgan’s $6 billion surplus into a $13.8 BILLION annual deficit! And the worst part of it, nothing seems to have gotten better! Hospital emergency closures are worse, surgery waiting times are still terrible, crazies running amok on city streets have made people fear going out, even in their residential neighbourhoods, taxes/fees are higher than ever, affordability is worse… and Eby seems determined to give away huge areas of land (including urban sites) and billions in cash to First Nations. Under these circumstances, I would not object to an early election, but not before the municipal elections take place and the Opposition has a fair chance to choose a leader, so voters can reasonably hear/consider diverse views. Ho)
Less power grab more saving if 85 m is spent every 4 years than every few years.
All PEP persons should be vetted for corruption signs in light of 2+2=5 ebi 4 error 1.5 B NDP math.
(Response: Actually, I heard today the cost of the provincial vote may be closer to $90 million! But what’s another $5 million to a Premier trying desperately to save his job … especially when it’s the taxpayers who will pick up the total $90 million cost of the vote … not to mention the millions the parties, candidates, supporters will also spend! Ho)
A crass, opportunistic, political shell game.
I expect the NDP want to have an election before Christmas.
The Conservative/Socred/Liberal coalition should pull it’s collective head out of its butt and decide….do they want 4 more years of NDP rule or not?
(Response: I’ll even give them a name they can use: “The Common Sense Coalition” … a sure election winner! Ho)
What’s 85m among friends? The Eby NDP wasting other people’s money in a crass attempt to hang on doesn’t seem to keep them up at night.
Would be a real possibility they don’t get any more seats and it is a complete debacle that accomplishes nothing but humiliation. And, we get a fractured but hopefully coalescing centrist right opposition.
(Response: Now that Findlay is gone, if Eby is smart, he’ll pull back and NOT go now… stepping all over the municipal elections. The backlash from voters against that, plus the idea of spending $85 million less than two years since the last vote, plus the government’s terrible record … plus the DRIPA fiasco: could be an NDP disaster. Ho)
It would not only be grossly unfair but disgusting and shameful to call a snap election especially when the Conservative leader resigned and the opposition is in disarray. The people of BC are then treated with disrespect since they wouldn’t be given a chance to see what choices they may have in two years. Horganntook advantage of the people also in a pandemic crisis as did dirty and sneaky Trudeau. They make me sick when politians do this. It’s working only for themselves and not the public when they pull these things. Wouldn’t that be something though if Eby ended up being shocked with lower votes than he thought if he called an election. Even another minority or worse. I’ll put my vote to someone else no matter what. All the secret deals and giveaways and Dripa should ,are people shudder at the thought of what this guy will continue to do.
(Response: Exactly! Grossly unfair … to the Opposition, municipal officials/candidates, and the voters! Eby/NDP could be underestimating the voters’ reaction if he calls an election now! Ho)
Thank you Stu for the kind words.
And thank you Harvey for the Eby quote. If he calls an election, he looks even worse.
But just to be clear. I still stand by my comment. You and I have engaged in debate on this topic more than once and this is the first time we have been in pretty much full agreement. You don’t have to know me. Call me random guy on the internet. But when I was engaging you on this topic previously were you just writing me off as some NDP supporter or sycophant. Or if you had forgotten my political leanings was I written off as a Conservative sycophant. In my case there is no partisan feelings about this topic.
I don’t want snap elections because they are unnecessary, expensive and most important anti-democracy. I don’t believe a government should be able to call an election at the most opportune time for them to win. Talk about rigging an election. I am rigid in that belief. I am not waffling. You said, you could understand Eby calling one but not in the dead of winter. I am not that forgiving. I don’t care what his chances of winning are; I don’t want him to call an election until he is forced to step down after a successful non confidence vote or in October 2028.
And maybe I am just tired of the nonspecific name calling. The radical left. The maple magas. The wokesters. We have the most killer of quotes. Shove it in Eby’s face. Make him read the government webpage that I posted earlier. Ask his cabinet members why there should be an election given the legislation about fixed election dates. Go after the real culprits not some poor dupe supporter or sycophant.
We are all in a frenzy about a possible fall election. It hasn’t been called yet. Come the spring if one is called then I imagine most here will be less frenzied. I will still think it is wrong.
(Response: We actually agree quite a lot on this one when you oppose “snap elections because they are unnecessary, expensive and most important anti-democracy”. However, from a political point of view, I can understand why any Premier or PM would call one, say within the last year or 18 months of their mandate, depending on what’s going on or about to go on with their government/policies/loss of confidence. But I want fair elections and to call a snap election just after the Opposition loses a leader or a number of MLAs (through death, illness or even defections) is just being opportunistic, cynical and disrespectful of democratic principles and the voters. It’s not too late: I know NDP politicians and strategists read this blog … they should convince Eby to wait, at least until Spring, giving the Opposition a chance to make it a fair fight over vision/policies and maybe even time enough to improve the government’s record on so many critical issues. Ho)
Vote orange track record
5 credit rating downgrades(that costs extra money for you )
Doubled debt in 4 years
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/first-reading-b-c-stacking-up-sub-national-debt-faster-than-anywhere-else-in-north-america
Another selfish election potentially – remember covid election?
Ferries built in ccp china
Bloated burocracy
2+2=5 gas math loss of 1. 5 billion food bank medical dollars
Closing directory access to people who work for BC
No muni auditor
No more construction updateproject office
No Charbonneau commission like inquiry into project costs
Foot dragging on money laundering?
Property quicksand ? Look at upcoming court cases and current
Safe not safe drug supply diversion
NDA to talk to province ?
While my dad waits for a year so far for hip surgery and still no date set and in his 80s.
ABE anyone but eby.
(Response: Yes, the record is terrible, which raises the question Why would Eby want to go now??? Just because the Opposition is not in great shape is not a good enough reason to spend $85 Million to have another election, less than two years since the last. Ho)
gerrymandering a quicksand election comes to mind.
2 words for ebi.. compound interest.
This is so weird. If the shoe fits?
You made a broad statement that NDP politicians supporters and sycophants (choice of words Harvey) have used the sanctity of fixed election dates as an excuse to not call an election when critics demanded one. First of all, I don’t even know if anybody in the NDP (supporter politician or sycophant) has actually used fixed election dates as an excuse. BECAUSE THEY DON”T HAVE TO.
An elected government is given 4 years to govern unless they lose the confidence of the legislature. That’s it. They don’t need excuses. They just ignore the critics. So as an admitted supporter of the NDP I take exception to that comment because you are lumping people with broad strokes, trying to find hypocrisy where it might not exist. And you don’t have to.
If Eby calls an election right now you have plenty of ammunition. Call him out on the fact that he is going against established legislation for his own benefit. And especially at this time when it interferes with the municipal election cycle.
But people have to be very careful. If someone says it’s ok if he waits until after Oct. 24. Or it’s ok as long as it’s not in the dead of winter etc. people are giving him an out. It is not ok for a government to call a snap election for political gain. (nuance: In 2020, some people thought it was ok for Horgan to call an early election because the working relationship with the Greens was starting to unravel after 3 1/2 years of a minority government. I was still opposed mind you but I wasn’t super angry.)
That is not Eby’s situation. Two years into a majority (slim as it is) mandate. His poll numbers were horrible and only went up because the opposition is in shambles. He should just focus on finishing what he and his party supposedly promised to do during the last election
We’re on the same side Harvey. Sometimes i wonder why people get so outraged at something. In this case, if Eby calls an early election, i am going to be more outraged than anybody.
(Response: Yes..Eby himself has previously said NO to early elections unless the government loses a confidence motion: both CBC and CFJC Kamloops have previously quoted him saying he’ll stick to the fixed October date: also in Victoria News ” Premier David Eby gave an unequivocal “no” when asked whether he plans to call a snap election”. And CBC also reported that Eby specifically removed DRIPA amendments as a confidence vote to avoid an early election should they fail: “He said the bill will still be introduced later in the legislative session, but when it is, it will not be a confidence motion as originally declared.” He sure seemed to believe in fixed election dates then!
But his stance changed as the Conservatives dissolved into chaos. But either we have fixed election dates or we don’t … unless the government gets defeated on a confidence motion. And to call one NOW, deliberately before the Opposition gets its act together, right in the middle of the municipal campaigns, when turnouts are already a major problem, I think stinks! Ho)
Well I didn’t need to wait long for Not Sure and I feel his pain, and you rubbing salt in his scratches wasn’t fair, as he has in the past all but signed his north coast name. You know him all too well, know he isn’t a sycophant and know he can debate you head on without name calling.
Anyway, if you’d waited until your usual Monday posting, it might have been quite different, A few hours in BC politics can dump the applecart right over.
Findlay quits, Clark jumps up yelling “look at me, look at me” Rustad mulls another run at the leadership and Eby’s game could get rained on.
What will “they” do and what will “he” do?
I hope people did not miss the fact that Eby needed to expand the PST because of money problems, but is ok with flushing $85 million down the pipe.
Ain’t politics grand?
(Response: There are hundreds of people (maybe thousands when it gets passed on/republished elsewhere) … so when I refer to NDP “politicians, sycophants and supporters” … no one’s individual ego should be so large as to believe I’m referring specifically to them and it’s not my fault if someone feels he or she fits into one or two of the categories! As for timing of the blog, things in BC politics these days can change almost hourly (love it! 🙂 ) but I usually write them on Sunday and I had heard the election call will come Tuesday, so I decided to try to head it off, or least state my opinion, in time to generate discussion about the timing. Clearly, it worked! Ho)
I will be a tad upset if Eby calls an election now. It truly is not a good time. I am also a long time leftie since I was a kid.
Its not so much taking advantage of the opposition because that is just politics, but its the municipal election is being run right now and it takes priority. that truly does piss ,e off, let me rephrase that……….I’m still thinking but a cheque will not be forthcoming.
It a lot of money to spend when its not necessary. If the province has that much extra cash rolling around they could pay for the education of a few people who want to be doctors in B.C. for say 10 years or recruit doctors of G.B. or other places in the world
The NDP still have two years in its mandate. Use them to do all the things he says he is going to do if re elected. No need to spend $84M.
People are unhappy with Eby and the opposition is in disarray but that is no guarantee the NDP will win. The opposition could win. Bring in enough money and some experts on how to run an election to win and who knows. There are a lot of people running for municipal office, some may be good and would be willing to drop one for another election. Eby has two years to turn things around. It really is time for his Cabinet to tell him the truth and run their ministries they ought to be.
I don’t care about defiecits all that much but I do care about the mess with the drug and homeless people. The current system is not working nor was it ever going to work. You don’t put drug addicts all in the same hotel and walk away. There needs to be game rules and for those who want help, you provide it. for addicts who want to remain addicts, fine, its just not going to be on the streets of our province. Provide them with decent accomodation, meals, clean clothes, health care, drugs and have it at least 20 miles outside of towns. Staff will also be necessary. Being drunk and disorderly in public used to be against the law. don’t know if the law is still around but if it is it would work and giving them a place to be solves the problem. those who want treatment, provide it and large institutions won’t work. People need peace and quiet in recovery.
The drug problems we have didn’t start when the NDP came in to office As I recall as the drug crisis was ramping up Premier Clark reduced the size of the gang unit. Rich Coleman didn’t do a dam thing either and lets not let el gordo off the hook either. As things were ramming up Alberta banned pill presses, B.C. did nothing. Pills were being made in B.C and those presses were part of the process.
The NDP tried to do something but buying those hotels wasn’t the answer. People who want to get clean need structure and support as do those who need to continue to use drugs.
More doctors and nurses would be nice but if people don’t want to work in smaller towns there is nothing which can force them to, so get over that. People ought to recognize they will not get the same heath care living in smaller or remote areas of the province. that is available in larger cities.
The shortage of health care facilities is a problem going back to the 90s and we have only ourselves to blame. No one wants to pay more taxes, well with out money hospitals and very expensive equipment isn’t available. People were more concerned with bridges and roads and the money spent on rapid transit could have been spent on health care. We all made choices and now we have to live with them. Some people can afford to go to Europe for their surgeries or specific types of surgeries but that does cost money most don’t have. Germany and Switzerland have the best doctors in the world. they all speak english
o.k. enough of my rant. that feels better.
(Response: An early call … right in the middle of the municipal campaigns .. could backfire on Eby/NDP. There are still MANY problems the current government vowed to improve just two years ago … and they sure don’t look better, maybe even worse: hospital emergency closures, wait times, public safety, homelessness, jobs, the defcit, the debt, BC’s tumbling credit rating, DRIPA fears. So I’m not sure why Eby is in such a rush … except that the Opposition is in a mess. However, many voters are so unhappy with Eby/NDP they’ll vote for anyone the centrists put up, just to get a change of government! The old adage “Fools rush in …” may prove Eby’s undoing. Ho)
I anticipated this post so have been sitting in waiting.
I agree with you and believe an overwhelming number of voters will feel the same.
Devious, underhanded, unscrupulous, and even duplicitous. Those are some of the words which come to mind when thinking about the leader of what has been my preferred party since 1972.
I understand the tactic, but I don’t agree with it, especially since he always maintained he would operate through the full cycle to 2028, but along with my friends on the coast whose lands are in limbo, I feel betrayed on many levels.
At the very least he should be handed an embarrassing minority, but I believe Mr. Eby needs a real arse whoopin’ on principle, so the NDP will not get my vote this time and I might just sit this one out completely.
On the other hand, he may just be floating a trial balloon, which will surely get immediately blasted out of the sky.
I’m looking forward to Not Sure’s eloquence on this one.”.
(Response: I agree with you when you write “I understand the tactic, but I don’t agree with it.” Anyone who follows politics can understand why a leader/party in power would carefully choose when to go to the polls, BUT the NDP made such a huge deal so often about the importance of following the law, keeping to the fixed election dates … the hypocrisy of Eby calling one now is staggering! And I doubt anyone really buys his rationalization why he MUST go now … the poor health of a couple of MLAs. Imagine how they feel, fighting cancer and listening to the Premier kind of suggesting they will either soon be dead or unable to do their work! Awful! Ho)
Well we finally agree. Sort of.
I have pounded this unapologetically many times here: No election before the fixed election date which is the third Saturday in October every fourth year, 2028 in this case.
So I kind of resent this comment: “So much for the sanctity of BC’s “fixed election date” legislation … so often quoted by NDP politicians, sycophants and supporters when BC’s deficit hit a new record.”
I hope you are not lumping me in with that crowd.
A few weeks back in your post on the need for a centrist party, I wondered why people were speculating about an early election and quoted the government website:
“The use of fixed election dates is to ensure that the timing of elections cannot be manipulated for political or partisan reasons.”
Your response: “It would be admirable if Eby does not take advantage of the chaos currently enveloping the BC conservative party and the other fledgling parties or Independents. But frankly, I would not blame him if he did take advantage of the situation… unless he does it in the dead of winter!”
During the municipal elections. During the dead of winter. Next spring. Any time in 2027. Any time in 2028 before the third Saturday in October. Just NO!!!
The only time we to have an early election is when the government loses the confidence of the legislature which occurs during a minority government. The NDP are not yet in that position.
NDP/Eby, just do the job you are supposed to be doing, like solving the problems you said you were going to solve during the campaign two years ago. If you do that you likely win in 2028, and if you can’t do that then well… And use the $85M on something more important than an unnecessary election.
Seriously, I can tolerate screw ups by my usual party of choice but to me this is would be so blatantly undemocratic I will spoil my ballot.
(Response: I referred to “NDP politicians, sycophants and supporters” … and since you use a pen-name, I have no real idea which of these you feel refers to you (are you Eby, a secret Cabinet Minister, a sycophant or supporter?) but if the shoe fits, wear it. If Eby does call another election before the scheduled election date, without a REAL emergency requiring it, that will expose the utter hypocrisy of the current government and leader. Not to mention …but let’s … the waste of $85 million in public funds to expose the NDP ethics today. In fact, it might actually help the party in the long run if he waits. Ho)
Back on Sept 1, I mused that there was going to be a snap election. I just had this feeling, my Spidy senses.
Well, Eby and the NDP are now openly musing on a snap election, which would not really be a snap election as most are talking about it for the last week.
I do agree with you, if Eby does call a snap election, it would be Eby’s most selfish, self-centered decision yet and it could also backfire massively on the NDP.
Eby will go down in history as one of the worst, if not worst Premier this province had and that is saying a lot when one Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark certainly showed the nadir of BC Premiers. Eby makes them look good.
The problem with Eby and the NDP is that the party is no longer the NDP of old, rather a hybrid party made up mostly of Vancouver Visionnistas, left overs from Vision Vancouver, and Vancouver West Side armchair socialists.
The NDP today is basically a Vancouver centric politcal party and Eby is the Poster boy for those who lived off the taxpayer’s dime.
As mentioned before, Eby (well it was Horgan) and the NDP, who took what should have been a $3 or $4 billion transportation project to a now almost $18 billion SkyTrain project. The FastFerries don’t have a stitch on the SkyTrain cost overruns, but unlike the FastFerries, the corporate media stays mute.
Eby, naming the Expo Line extension to Langley, the Dave Barret extension is an indication of an upcoming election.
That Whirring sound you hear is Dave Barret spinning in his grave because he championed light rail and not Skytrain, but Eby doesn’t care because he got his all important 10 second soundbite on the evening news.
But who remembers Dave Barrett? Only those who were born before 1970, but this move was about getting back a very large cadre of disgruntled NDP supporters who definitely dislike Eby and the current party.
As for Centre BC, today’s resignation of Kerry-Lynne Findlay as party leader is very good news because the name “Centre BC” explains the position and they got rid of the anti everything Maple MAGA’s.
Centre BC, will; not please everyone but for middle of the road voters, maybe seen as a safe bet from voting NDP.
This is what Eby and the NDP are deathly afraid of, an electable centrist politcal party and this just may get Eby to call an election.
The lower mainland will be ground zero for winning the next election and Eby is desperately trying to rally the troops, while at the same time, the Centre BC will desperately try to get sane and electable candidates to run in the next election if it is called.
Never a dull moment in BC politics.
Maybe my spidy senses were working after all.
(Response: With Findlay quitting today, it may become easier for a centre right coalition to come together … either running as a single entity or dividing the province’s ridings up and not challenging each other in each … thereby reducing or eliminating the dreaded splitting of the vote. And now that Findlay is gone, Eby could even improve his image by saying he’ll delay any election call to give the Official Opposition a chance to recover, choose a new leader and make any election a fair contest between ideas. I know … I’m dreaming! LOL!! Ho)
Harvey, I support your suggestion regarding Eby delaying an election. For a democracy to be effective there needs to be an effective opposition. It would also give a legacy win or loose of being more concerned about democracy than his personal career.
(Response: I believe in fairness, and in a democracy elections should be about debating ideas, policies and promises … not taking advantage and starting the race when the opponent is down … especially when there is already another race taking place on the track! And remember, the law of the land specifically sets out the scheduled date for the provincial race. Ho)