Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows MLAs respond to snap provincial election call

Premier David Eby called a snap provincial election Tuesday afternoon, days after Findlay resigned as leader of the BC Conservative Party. The provincial vote is set for Oct. 24, one week after municipal elections on Oct. 17.

Maple Ridge East MLA Lawrence Mok of the BC Conservative Party said holding a provincial campaign during municipal elections, and two years early, disrespects municipal voters. Mok said Eby was trying to blame Donald Trump for the provincial economy, which he said has fared poorly under the NDP government. First elected in 2024, Mok said he plans to seek re-election under the Conservative banner and argued that only a Conservative government led by Lorne Doerkson can address affordability, health care, public safety and DRIPA.

Eby said the Canada-U.S. trade dispute made a strong NDP majority necessary. He said Trump was threatening jobs and increasing costs, and that British Columbians should decide whether the province should strengthen itself, build homes, protect jobs and reduce its dependence on the United States, or take another direction.

Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA Lisa Beare supported Eby's call for an election. She said voters should send representatives to Victoria who are “Canada strong” and “B.C. strong” and who will stand up to Trump as part of a pro-Canada team. Beare said the overlapping municipal and provincial campaigns would not confuse voters. She is the Minister of Education and Child Care and was elected in 2017, then re-elected in 2020 and 2024.

Some political observers see the election as an opportunity to capitalize on disorder within the Conservative party. Findlay stepped down after weeks of turmoil, caucus defections and calls from within the party for her resignation. Some MLAs who left during her leadership have returned, while eight others joined the Centre BC party before she resigned.