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‘Irresponsible and just plain wrong’: BC Liberals disappointed by early election call

The BC Liberals were quick to respond to the announcement of a snap election, now set for October 24.

Provincial Party leader Andrew Wilkinson addressed media following the proclamation by Premier John Horgan, calling the decision ‘irresponsible and just plain wrong.’

“Today, John Horgan chose politics over people,” said Wilkinson.

“For no good reason whatsoever, we are now being forced into a general election that nobody in British Columbia wants, except for the NDP. The only reason for this general election is to try and secure the jobs of the NDP. We have a government that is cynical enough to put us through a general election in the middle of a pandemic.”

After much speculation, the news was made official this morning, giving parties 32 days on the campaign trail.

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“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything,” said Horgan, explaining he wants to get the election underway at the front end of the pandemic, rather than waiting until it potentially gets worse.

“The people of British Columbia deserve a say in the direction of our recovery and the future of our province.”

Horgan also addressed how this election will have additional public health measures, adding there will be an opportunity for advanced polls and using mail-in ballots.

Prince George – Valemount Liberal MLA Shirley Bond is now seeking a sixth term in the position.

“I think British Columbians should question, very seriously, the decision of the premier of our province to go to an election. It’s the first time in BC history that voters will go to the polls during a provincial state of emergency and a global pandemic,” she told MyPGNow.

Bond says she would rather see an election a year from now because she is concerned the ‘full scope’ of Covid-19 is relatively unknown.

“There will be far less voter engagement, it will be much more difficult to connect directly with voters,” Bond explained.

Prince George – Valemount will also likely have to rely heavily on voting by mail in Bond’s opinion.

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While in-person voting is scheduled for October 24, Elections BC says advanced polling will begin on October 16.

“That is not a common practice for people in British Columbia,” she said.

“There are lots of people who are concerned about being in public spaces.”

Voters were originally scheduled to cast their ballots October 16 of next year.

By calling an early election, Horgan is violating the province’s fixed election statute, implemented into the Constitution Act in 2001.

It also violates the written power-sharing agreement his party inked with the BC Greens in 2017, originally promising to wait until the next scheduled election date.

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