Victoria — As British Columbia's snap election enters its final week, NDP Leader David Eby publicly appealed to Green Party supporters to back the New Democrats to prevent a Conservative government, a pitch that Green leader Emily Lowan dismissed as an attempt to scare voters.
Election math and competing visions
Speaking in Campbell River on Sunday, Eby argued that the distribution of Green votes in the last provincial contest helped the Conservatives finish ahead of the NDP in multiple ridings. He warned that small differences between the New Democrats and Greens should be set aside in favour of what he described as a shared vision on public services and environmental protection, and urged voters to consider the broader stakes.
"You may still be frustrated," Eby said, acknowledging the unpopularity of calling a snap election early in the mandate. He framed the campaign as a choice about the province's future rather than a debate over election timing.
"So, I’m asking Green voters to think very carefully about the kind of province that we all want, because when we all work together as voters who share that vision, we win."
He contrasted that vision with what he called "stark differences" from Conservative policies, naming private health-care, cuts to public services, increases in division and strained trade relations with the United States as areas of concern.
Green rebuke: policy gaps, not just personalities
Lowan pushed back in a statement, accusing Eby of attempting to frighten British Columbians into supporting the NDP after he called the early election. She framed the argument not as a matter of personalities but of concrete policy outcomes.
Lowan pointed to measures she says were delayed or frozen under the NDP, naming affordable child care, long-term care homes and housing affordability as areas where she believes New Democrat commitments fell short. She also pointed to the recent municipal victory by Green candidate Pete Fry in Vancouver as evidence of appetite for Green leadership.
"David Eby called this snap election two years early. Now, he is trying to scare British Columbians into voting for him."
What the parties agree on — and where they differ
Both parties stress commitments to a strong public health-care system and environmental protection. Where they diverge, according to Eby, is in the willingness of Conservatives to pursue private health-care models and to slash public programs.
Lowan, however, framed the choice as one of delivery and trust. "Voters aren’t asking for a perfect premier or government," she said, according to her statement. "They are asking for a government that keeps its word, makes life affordable, and makes sure care is there when they need it."
Practical stakes for voters
With the campaign entering its final stretch, voters must weigh the strategic implications of splitting ballots among centre-left and Green options against their policy priorities. The debate underscores two recurring dynamics in B.C. politics: the tension between principled voting and tactical voting, and the influence of smaller parties on outcomes in closely fought ridings.
- Strategic voting question: Eby asks Greens to prioritise defeating Conservatives; Lowan insists policy differences matter.
- Policy priorities: Child care, long-term care homes and housing affordability central to Green criticism.
- Recent evidence cited: Eby referenced the last election where Green support, he said, correlated with Conservative wins in some ridings.
Numbers behind the argument
The Eby campaign says Green votes helped put Conservatives ahead of New Democrats in 11 ridings in the previous election, including the North Island riding where he spoke. That figure has become a focal point for the NDP's appeal.
| Claim | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ridings where Greens helped Conservatives finish ahead of NDP | 11 (Eby cited this number; one example given was North Island) |
Looking ahead
As voters prepare for Oct. 24, the contest between pragmatic appeals to block an ideological shift and arguments about policy accountability will likely intensify. Both parties are staking out their cases: the NDP on preventing a Conservative government, and the Greens on holding the NDP to promises on affordability and care.
For West Coast voters deciding their ballots, the choice now put forward is as much about immediate policy outcomes as it is about the long game of coalition-building and influence in a potentially fragmented legislature.
Reporting from Victoria and Campbell River.
