The Skeena
VICTORIA — British Columbians will vote in a provincial election on Saturday, Oct. 24, after Premier David Eby asked Lt.-Gov. Wendy Cocchia to dissolve the legislature on Tuesday.
The election was called less than two years into the BC NDP government’s current mandate. Eby framed the campaign around the province’s response to the trade war and economic pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, describing the situation as an “existential moment” for BC.
The NDP entered the campaign with a one-seat majority. In the 2024 election, the party won 47 of the legislature’s 93 seats, while the BC Conservatives won 44 and the BC Greens won two. The composition of the opposition changed substantially during the following two years as several MLAs left, joined or were removed from caucuses.
The BC Conservatives begin the campaign under interim leader Lorne Doerkson. Former leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned on Sunday, less than four months after taking the position. Five MLAs who had recently left or been expelled from the Conservative caucus were welcomed back on Monday.
Provincial election day will fall one week after BC’s general local elections on Oct. 17. Municipal leaders had asked the province to avoid overlapping the campaigns, citing concerns that a provincial contest could draw attention and resources away from local races.
The general election call also cancels the Abbotsford-Mission byelection that had been scheduled for Sept. 26. All 93 provincial seats will now be contested, and Elections BC says voters can register or update their information online.
