BC Conservatives Secure Majority as NDP Calls Snap Election
A snap election called by Premier David Eby resulted in a Conservative majority government, ending nine years of NDP rule in British Columbia.
Premier David Eby announced a provincial election on September 18, 2024, after a rally in Victoria that featured patriotic themes and a performance by a local rapper. The decision, made by Eby and two senior advisers, sparked concern within the NDP caucus, with several former members warning that a premature election could be politically risky.
"It was thought that you should wait, that it was intemperate to move forward," former NDP MLA Garry Begg said, citing internal debates about timing.
"I don’t personally believe that it’s a good idea to have a snap election. Period. I think if you’re trying to take political advantage, I think people see that and react to that in a negative way," former NDP MLA Rick Glumac added.
Despite the NDP’s reservations, the election proceeded and the fragmented Conservative party, led by an interim leader, secured the province’s largest majority government in 25 years. Conservative strategists reported confidence of victory by mid-October, while many NDP members feared defeat from the campaign’s outset.
The Union of B.C. Municipalities had even passed a resolution urging the province to postpone the election until after the municipal campaign, but the motion did not alter the timeline. The election outcome marked the end of a nine-year NDP administration in British Columbia.