Premier David Eby expected to call provincial snap election today

After a week of speculation, Premier David Eby is expected to call a snap election Tuesday afternoon.

He has called a news conference at 12:15 p.m. at Government House in Victoria. This is where he would need to go to meet with the Lieutenant Governor to “drop the writ” and dissolve the legislature.

A provincial election called today could be as soon as Saturday, Oct. 24 – a week after the municipal elections.

Eby has tried to position this as a necessary step to cement his mandate in response to the trade dispute with the United States.

But many in political circles see it as a way to exploit the disarray within the B.C. Conservative Party, after Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned as party leader on Sunday. Findlay quit after weeks of turmoil, defections from caucus and ultimately, calls from within for her to step down.

Some of the MLAs who left under Findlay have already rejoined the party, but eight others joined the Centre BC party before she quit. Although unification talks are underway, having these two parties on the same ballot could split the right-of-centre vote.

An election call now could overshadow local municipal elections, scheduled for Oct. 17, to the dismay of many local leaders.

Former Union of B.C. Municipalities president Cori Ramsay (on Friday, Sept. 18, when she was still president) called on Eby to wait, warning that only the “loudest voices” will be heard, and local issues will fall by the wayside. Some local candidates eyeing provincial roles have already pulled out of the municipal races.

The last election was held on Oct. 19, 2024, meaning Eby is still less than two years into a four-year term.

More to come.