British Columbia voters got their only televised look at the three main party leaders together, as NDP Leader David Eby, interim Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson and Green Leader Emily Lowan debated in Vancouver ahead of the October 24 snap provincial election.
Both the Conservatives and the New Democrats claimed victory after the debate, which was moderated by Angus Reid Institute president Shachi Kurl and ranged across the cost of living, health care, major projects and Indigenous rights legislation. Eby was pressed on his decision to call a snap election, and pointed to a one-seat working majority that he said left every vote able to bring down the government.
The debate came hours after the NDP released the costings for its platform, showing a plan to reduce the provincial deficit by about $2 billion by 2028-29, built in part on about $1 billion in new revenue from income tax increases on the highest earners. The Greens had released their platform earlier in the week, while the Conservatives had yet to publish their figures.
In a surprise twist near the end, CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko and interim OneBC leader Dallas Brodie, both former Conservative caucus colleagues, delivered taped messages. With advance voting about to open and no second debate scheduled, the Vancouver stage was the campaign's single biggest shared moment.
