B.C. Premier David Eby was asked about an impending snap election on Friday afternoon, but instead of ruling out the possibility of one, he repeatedly said he had no announcement to make. Bounding onto the stage in a light-coloured suit, open shirt and no tie on Friday afternoon, Eby seemed to be in election mode as he addressed delegates from the Union of B.C. Municipalities. The premier started his speech with humour and thanked those seeking re-election next month. “For those who are retiring, thank you for your service. For those who are running for the first time, what are you thinking?” he said to a round of laughter. Eby also made some campaign-style promises. He told the crowd his government was pausing a plan to add PST to professional services such as accounting, architecture and engineering. He also said he would instruct BC Ferries to build the next generation of ships it orders in the province after the last contract was awarded to China. There was one promise Eby wouldn’t make, though. In a question-and-answer session, outgoing UBCM president Cori Ramsay asked Eby to commit not to call a provincial election until after voters go to the polls for municipal elections on Oct. 17. “We don’t need to know if or when you might call a snap election. What we do want to know, though, is whether you can assure British Columbians that you will wait four weeks before making such a decision,” she said. “I understand why local leaders would be concerned about overlapping elections,” the premier said in response. “We’ll certainly consider the resolution and the advice, just like we consider all resolutions that come forward from local governments.” A smattering of boos came from the assembled municipal politicians before Ramsay asked them to maintain decorum. Answering a follow-up question, Eby said, in part, “I don’t think it’s ever wrong to ask British Columbians about which direction we should go.” “There was an opportunity to provide clarity around the question of the snap election,” Ramsay later told CTV News. “Unfortunately, that clarity was not provided, and we remain disappointed.” As the entire province wonders when the writ will drop, Eby made it abundantly clear it wouldn’t be Friday. “I don’t have any announcements to make about an election today,” he said during a media scrum following his speech. Eby repeated a variation of that statement at least half a dozen times over the next 20 minutes. According to University of British Columbia political scientist Stewart Prest, calling a snap election can bring some risks for the governing party. “It’s very hard to come up with a reason for why the province needs an election right now, other than it’s a good time for the NDP to renew and extend their majority,” Prest told CTV News. “This is a directional moment … as much as I disagree with it, there are two clear choices here,” Eby said to the UBCM crowd when asked if he was concerned voters would see such a move as cynical and opportunistic. Although Eby was coy about the possibility of an election Friday afternoon, Elections B.C. published a list of possible dates. Oct. 24 is the earliest entry—exactly one week after voters go to the polls municipally.
