Election 2026: Campaign Roundup - Day 4

Welcome to Day 4 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 4:

• The BC Conservatives have selected Pavneet Singh to run in Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream, passing over former federal MP Tracy Gray after she announced she wanted the nomination. Singh, a local business owner and vice president of the BC Conservative Party, previously stepped aside from a BC United candidacy in the riding to avoid splitting the conservative vote. The riding is currently held by Independent MLA Tara Armstrong.
  
  
• Former BC Green leader Andrew Weaver is returning to provincial politics, announcing he will run for CentreBC in Oak Bay-Gordon Head, the riding he represented from 2013 to 2020. Weaver said he felt he could not “stand by” and watch what he described as chaos in the province, while criticizing the NDP government’s deficit and Premier David Eby’s approach. The incumbent MLA is NDP candidate Diana Gibson.
  
  
• Speaking of the Greens, BC Green leader Emily Lowan will run in Saanich North and the Islands after incumbent Green MLA Rob Botterell announced he will not seek re-election. Lowan, who does not currently have a seat in the legislature, says both major parties have failed BC residents and argues the Greens could hold the balance of power after the October 24th election. The riding has been held by the Greens since Adam Olsen won it in 2017.
  
  
• NDP Leader David Eby has pledged new “Built in BC and Canada” procurement rules for public infrastructure, requiring ministries, Crown agencies and health authorities to prioritize BC and Canadian-made materials where they are competitively priced and available on time. The plan would also impose penalties on US-made goods and immediately apply to the North Coast Transmission Line.
  
  
• Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson is criticizing David Eby’s new “Buy BC” procurement rules as a recycled announcement, arguing BC Hydro was already buying Canadian materials for the North Coast Transmission Line. Doerkson says the NDP should be judged on actions taken during past trade disputes, pointing to softwood lumber, steel, and aluminum tariffs and the decision to award BC Ferries’ new-vessel contract to a Chinese state-owned shipyard.

Support Our Work:

The British Columbia Institute doesn't accept any government funding and never will. We think you should be free to choose, for yourself, which organizations to support. If you're in a position to contribute financially, you can make a donation here:

If you're not in a position to donate, we understand, but if you appreciate our work, you can help by spreading our message. Please forward this email to your friends, and help make sure every British Columbian knows what's going on in our province.