Why the provincial election has been called in a pandemic could be the major question faced by the NDP, a Union of B.C. Municipalities election panel heard Sept. 22.
Premier John Horgan called the snap election Sept. 21 even as COVID-19 case numbers continued to rise in B.C.
“There’s a lot of things on people’s minds right now and the last thing they want to worry about is who is running government,” said Liberal Party member Caroline Elliott, calling the province “rudderless” in the current pandemic situation.
And, she said, the Confidence and Supply Agreement promised no early election.
That pact was signed between the NDP and B.C.’s Greens to maintain the NDP in power, Horgan in the premier’s office. It said no election would be called by the NDP until May 31, 2021, or the next scheduled election under the B.C. Constitution Act.
“We have a stable government,” added B.C. Green Party director Jonina Campbell. “People liked the fact we had a stable government. We had a lot of representation.”
Campbell said a surprise of the snap election call for the Greens was a record number of donations to the party following Horgan’s announcement
And, with most cabinet members now on the campaign trail, Elliott said some British Columbians feel as if they have been deserted.
All speakers said there has been a will and action by the three parties in the Legislature to act together during the pandemic.
The speakers said ridings to watch in the campaign include Richmond-Queensborough, Vancouver-False Creek, Fraser-Nicola, Courtenay-Comox, two Maple Ridge ridings, Oak Bay-Gordon Head, Cowichan Valley, Boundary-Similkameen, Columbia River-Revelstoke and North Island.
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