VICTORIA — British Columbia NDP leader David Eby on Sunday intensified his plea to supporters of the Green Party to lend their votes to the NDP in the Oct. 24 snap election, warning that splitting the progressive vote could hand power to the provincial Conservatives.
Final-week appeal targets Green voters
Speaking in North Island at an unrelated campaign event in Campbell River, Eby said Green votes in the previous provincial election helped elect Conservative candidates over New Democrats in 11 ridings. He framed his appeal as a choice between shared priorities — such as a strong public health-care system and environmental protection — and what he characterised as the Conservatives' “stark differences.”
"The message to Green voters is very straightforward. I have a great deal of respect for their leader, and she's not going to be the premier next week. The damage that a Conservative government would do would last for generations, and some of it would be impossible to undo."
Eby acknowledged frustrations with his party and with the timing of the campaign, but said the contest was about the province's future rather than the timing of the election or small policy differences between the NDP and Greens.
Green leader rejects portrayal
Green leader Emily Lowan rejected Eby's argument in a statement, saying he called the snap election two years early and accused him of attempting to scare voters into supporting the NDP.
"David Eby called this snap election two years early. Now, he is trying to scare British Columbians into voting for him."
Lowan urged voters to consider tangible policy outcomes when comparing the two parties, listing held promises she says were delayed or frozen under the NDP: child care fees that were paused at $10 a day, delayed long-term care homes and ongoing housing affordability challenges for renters. She also pointed to recent municipal results as evidence of growing Green support, noting the election of Green candidate Pete Fry as Vancouver mayor the previous Saturday.
Where the numbers matter
Both parties cast the choice before voters as consequential. Eby's campaign emphasised the risk of policy changes under a Conservative government, naming private health-care expansion, cuts to services, increased intolerance and changes to trade relations as areas of concern. Lowan countered that the differences between the NDP and Greens are material to families and communities affected by delays or policy reversals.
- Election date: Oct. 24
- Ridings where Green vote previously affected outcome: 11
- Riding cited by Eby: North Island (event location: Campbell River)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Snap election called | Two years earlier than scheduled (as referenced by Green leader) |
| Key concern cited by Eby | Conservative policies on health care, services, social cohesion and trade |
As the campaign enters its final week, the exchange highlights the tension between strategic voting appeals and principled party differences. Voters sympathetic to progressive aims face a decision over whether to prioritise policy alignment with the Green platform or to concentrate votes to prevent a Conservative plurality in closely contested ridings.
The debate underlines the practical effect of vote splitting in first-past-the-post races — a recurring theme in B.C. politics — but also illustrates competing narratives about accountability: the NDP urging consolidation to avert a Conservative government, and the Greens stressing broken promises and the need for distinct policy change.
With the election days away, both parties will be pressing their arguments to a narrow and potentially decisive pool of voters whose choices could determine the province’s next government.
