UPDATE – British Columbians are heading to the polls on October 24 as Premier John Horgan called a snap election one year ahead of scheduled.
Horgan says he met with Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin today adding she has granted his request to dissolve the legislature. The province has a fixed election date set for October 2021, but Horgan says to wait for 12 more months would be time wasted.
Speaking in his riding on Langford, Horgan says he has “struggled mightily” with this decision and it did not come easy to him.
“This pandemic will be with us for a year or more and that is why I feel we need to have an election now,” Horgan said. “I believe the best way forward is to put the politics now.”
He says the election will be safe given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry and Elections BC have been hard at work to ensure that things can be done safely.
Advanced voting is expected to be take place between October 16 and 21.
Both the NDP and BC Liberals were tied with 41 seats each when the legislature was dissolved. The Greens had two seats, two were filled by Independent candidates and there was one vacant seat.
During the election campaign, Carole James – who is one of seven NDP cabinet members not running for reelection – will oversee the administration of the government during the pandemic, according to Horgan.
Opposition parties call election nothing more than a power grab
BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson says it is an important day and today, Horgan chose politics over people. “For no good reason whatsoever we are now being forced into a general election that nobody in British Columbians wants except the NDP. The only reason for this general election is to try and secure the jobs of the NDP.”
“We’ve got a government that is cynical enough to put us through a general election in the middle of a pandemic. We need leadership. We need guidance. We need to make sure that this a province where we can all prosper. Not a province where petty politics gets in the way of health and economic security.”
BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau also voiced concerns. On twitter she wrote – I met with John Horgan on Friday and told him he had a stable government. This election is completely unnecessary. The NDP has chosen the pursuit of power over the health and safety of British Columbians.
During her media availability as well she reaffirmed that stance. “Let’s be clear, this is a bout [John Horgan] and his party putting their fortunes ahead of British Columbians at a time when people are worried about their jobs, their financial security, their children and their health and hey don’t have the privilege that he has with an ongoing salary and a secure pension and he needs to realize that he is out of touch with reality for most British Columbians right now.”
