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Former B.C. NDP ministers call snap election a mistake after party’s crushing defeat
Niki Sharma and Ravi Parmar say the B.C. NDP made the wrong call in holding a snap election. David Eby apologized and took full responsibility, while both former ministers left open the possibility of running for permanent party leader.
Two prominent members of British Columbia’s outgoing NDP government have described the scale of the mistake in calling last weekend’s snap election, which ended in a crushing defeat for the party. As the reduced NDP caucus meets at the legislature following outgoing Premier David Eby’s resignation, Niki Sharma and Ravi Parmar have both left open the possibility of seeking the party leadership.
Sharma, a former attorney general, said Eby apologized for calling the election at a meeting of the outgoing caucus on Wednesday and “took full responsibility.” She said she is not seeking the interim leadership, which was being discussed at a meeting of the incoming caucus that day. She did not rule out seeking the permanent leadership.
Parmar, the outgoing forests minister, said the party and Eby clearly made the wrong decision. According to the preliminary count, the B.C. Conservatives won a two-thirds majority with 63 seats, while the NDP’s seat count fell from 47 to 28. Parmar said the party owes British Columbians an apology for calling the election, adding that it is too early to say whether he will seek the leadership.
“The premier made a decision, we all stood by him … clearly we made the wrong decision calling the election, and that’s something that we’re all going to live by,” Parmar said before the caucus meeting. Asked to rate his frustration with the election call, he said it was “about ten, absolutely.” He added: “I’m disappointed, I’m frustrated, but that disappointment and frustration can’t last four years, it can only last a few days.”
Sharma said Wednesday’s meeting of the outgoing caucus was emotional as colleagues said goodbye. “There’s no sugar-coating it. It was a tough day. We had to say goodbye to MLAs that were excellent, that really served their community well,” she said. She said the group reflected on the loss and was determined to work out how to fulfil the job British Columbians have elected them to do now: serve as the Official Opposition.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2026.