Election 2026: Campaign Roundup - Day 17

Welcome to Day 17 of our British Columbia 2026 Campaign Roundup!

We're bringing you daily updates on all the policy proclamations, platform promises, and political point-scoring from the campaign trail.

As always, our work is entirely funded by donations from British Columbians just like you, so if you appreciate the updates, please consider making a one-off donation or signing up as a supporter for just $10 a month - that's just 36 cents per email!

Campaign Roundup - Day 17:

• BC Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson has announced plans to cut provincial income taxes by raising the basic personal exemption from $13,216 to $32,000. The party says the change would save nearly every working British Columbian $1,000 annually, or $2,000 for the average couple.
  
  
• The BC Conservatives announced a $15 million provincial commitment toward building a Filipino Cultural Centre in Vancouver. The party says the funding would unlock an additional $15 million in federal matching funds, bringing the total investment to $30 million. The proposed centre would provide a permanent gathering place for British Columbia’s Filipino community to host cultural events, celebrations and community programs.
  
  
• BC NDP Leader David Eby has pledged to extend the freeze on ICBC car insurance rates for another three years, through spring 2030. Eby says the extension would bring the total period of frozen rates to a decade, building on reforms that he says have saved drivers money. The NDP also criticized BC Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson over a leaked letter indicating that opening auto insurance to private competition is among the options under consideration.
  
  
• With most of the attention on the provincial election, don’t forget that municipal elections take place first, on October 17th. Voters will elect Mayors and Councillors who make decisions on property taxes, municipal spending, housing, and local services, before heading back to the polls for the provincial election on October 24th.
  
  
• There are several ways to vote in the provincial election. Advance voting runs October 16th - 21st from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Voters can also vote on election day, at a district electoral office, or by mail. Vote-by-mail packages should be requested as soon as possible. You can find all of the information and locations on the Elections BC website.

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