B.C. election latest: Doerkson vows to separate provincial and municipal campaigns

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Interim B.C. Conservatives leader Lorne Doerkson is promising legislation to prevent overlapping provincial and municipal campaigns if elected.

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Doerkson says in a message posted on social media that his party would pass legislation to prohibit a provincial election within 60 days of municipal election dates.

The provincial election called by NDP Leader David Eby will take place one week after municipal elections in B.C. on Oct. 17.

The timing of the snap provincial vote has been criticized by Eby’s opponents and the Union of B.C. Municipalities.

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EBY UNVEILS FORESTRY PLAN AHEAD OF DEBATE

NDP Leader David Eby has unveiled the party’s forestry plan if the party’s re-elected to government, promising to create a new funding stream to retrofit mills in B.C.

The funding stream would be part of a permanent B.C. Manufacturing Jobs Fund that would allow for retrofitted mills to produce value-added products to facilitate export to non-U.S.-markets

The plan also calls for a new $120 million fund over the next two years that would provide “targeted support” for workers and communities of mills at risk of closing.

Eby says the NDP will also ensure consistent access to fibre and speed up permitting, although no details on how an NDP will do so were provided.

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NDP PLEDGES COMMUNITY SHUTTLES FUNDING

The BC New Democrats have announced plans for a new $5 million fund for community shuttles across B.C. if elected, with the first services to be funded located in South Vancouver.

The area is home to two ridings expected to be closely contested by the NDP and the B.C. Conservatives, Vancouver-Fraserview and Vancouver-Langara.

The NDP says in a release that the new fund would initially go toward two new community shuttle routes in Vancouver’s Sunset neighbourhood using 15-passenger, wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

The shuttles would be operated by the Sunset Community Association and the Khalsa Diwan Society.

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CENTREBC UNVEILS HOUSING PLATFORM

CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko says her party would double the BC Builds program to create 20,000 below-market homes by 2031 if elected.

The plan is part of the party’s housing platform released Wednesday morning, calling for standardized provincial housing approvals by January 2028.

The party would also boost the annual renters’ tax credit to $600.

Neither Sturko nor OneBC interim leader Dallas Brodie are participating in tonight’s televised leaders debate.

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ONEBC LOSES CANDIDATE IN NORTH VANCOUVER-SEYMOUR

Elections BC says two candidates have withdrawn from the upcoming provincial election.

The provincial election agency says OneBC’s Frederick Thiele has withdrawn in North Vancouver-Seymour, although his name will still appear on ballots because they have already been printed.

Elections BC says there will be signage and staff at voting places informing voters that Thiele has withdrawn in the riding that was won by the NDP’s Susie Chant in the last two elections.

Independent candidate Gerry Lenoski has withdrawn as a candidate in New Westminster-Coquitlam.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2026.

The Canadian Press