B.C. opposition forces unite as Eby calls Oct. 24 snap election, citing Trump threat

The B.C. Conservatives said interim leader Lorne Doerkson and CentreBC’s leader Peter Milobar “have come together to give British Columbians a viable governing alternative.”

“This cynical election is not what British Columbians asked for, but it offers our province the hope for real change,” the party said in a statement.

“That is why our team has come together, strong and unified, to bring overdue change and build British Columbia back up into the province that you deserve.”

The seven CentreBC legislators who are returning to the Conservative fold all resigned or were kicked out of the main Opposition caucus under the brief and dramatic leadership of Kerry-Lynne Findlay, who quit on Sunday.

But Sturko, who was ejected last year by former Conservative leader John Rustad, said she can’t go back to a party that previously supported the repeal of the human rights code.

‘It’s a valued-based decision,” she said. “They (CentreBC) have a vision and philosophy I can support.”

CentreBC issued a scathing statement headlined “Milobar flips — again,” saying he had rejoined the Conservatives without any discussion with CentreBC’s executive council

The election call less than two years into Eby’s mandate came against the backdrop of Conservative chaos.

Thirteen Conservatives had recently either resigned or been kicked out by Findlay over their opposition to her leadership or ideological differences as the party swung further to the right.

But Doerkson moved swiftly to shore up the Conservative ranks, welcoming all of the members back on Monday and Tuesday, including Independent Brennan Day.

Not everyone is happy with the rapid reshaping of the Conservative ranks since Findlay’s exit — her husband, legislator Brent Chapman, announced on Tuesday that he was leaving the Conservatives to join OneBC.

That right-leaning party is led by Dallas Brodie, who was also expelled from the official Opposition last year by Rustad, who accused her of mocking former residential school students.

Eby, who has a one-seat majority, said there had not been a moment since the 2024 election when the Conservatives were not in chaos. He accused the party of going easy on Trump, whose threat he likened to a wildfire.

“When you smell smoke you don’t sit and wait to see what happens next,” he said, standing alongside his wife, Dr. Cailey Lynch, outside Government House in Victoria, where he went to ask Lt.-Gov. Wendy Cocchia to dissolve the legislature on Tuesday.

He called for a firebreak against both the trade war and “Trump-style politics.”

Eby mentioned Trump by name more than 20 times but did not mention Doerkson even once.

The date of final voting is a week after municipal elections are scheduled, and Eby called the vote despite pleas not to do so from numerous local government leaders.

The NDP caucus said in a statement that the party would roll out details of plans to respond to the trade war over the campaign, “offering a clear choice for British Columbians.”

“Our plan is making a difference, driving down housing costs and creating good new jobs. But the job is far from done, and we need to keep going,” Eby said in the statement.

“At a time when Donald Trump is creating more uncertainty, the last thing we need is to rip up what’s working. British Columbians deserve the chance to choose whether we build on our progress or put B.C. at risk by rolling over for Donald Trump.”

Doerkson was scheduled to address media Tuesday, but abruptly cancelled his appearance as the election call loomed.

Findlay had been set to run in a byelection in Abbotsford-Mission on Saturday but that has now been cancelled because of the general election call.

Just months ago, Eby looked politically vulnerable, after several attempts to amend the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples had failed, even though he had tried to discipline his caucus through the threat of an early election.

His government has also been beset by financial woes, and B.C. Finance Minister Josie Osborne announced last week that the deficit forecast had grown by $450 million to a record-setting $13.8 billion, largely because of a “calculation error” in the budget on natural gas royalties.

But recent disarray in Conservative ranks appears to have influenced the election call, with the NDP caucus meeting on Sunday to discuss Findlay’s exit and election plans.

The NDP at dissolution had 47 seats, there were two Greens, two vacant seats and 13 Independents. Chapman’s move to OneBC would make him its second legislator, potentially giving it official party status too.

The B.C. Conservatives under Rustad were brought to the brink of power in the 2024 election, winning 44 seats.

But internal rifts over ideology and leadership ensued, its ranks dwindling to 24 before Doerkson invited legislators back this week.

BC Green Party leader Emily Lowan said in a statement that the snap election is costly and isn’t wanted.

“This government has offered tough talk on Trump, but hasn’t delivered any real support for the people and industries feeling the pain, or implemented plans to build a local, resilient economy that could actually withstand the next shock,” she said.

“If they wanted to offer that support and stability they could do so today, instead they plunged us into an election.”

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim also called out Eby for launching a provincial election campaign when municipalities were already in the middle of local campaigning for an Oct. 17 vote.

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

Elections BC said advance voting would be available from Oct. 16 to Oct. 21.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2026.

Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

B.C. opposition forces unite as Eby calls Oct. 24 snap election, citing Trump threat

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