World news 74K views since yesterday

Eby's early-election gamble leaves B.C. NDP facing a rebuild

A post-election panel examines Conservative campaign discipline, missing NDP voters and the risks of rushing to replace the outgoing leader.

Channel: CBC News ·

CanadaStory of October 28, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? One of CBC News's most watched videos since yesterday, with 74,008 views.

CBC News: The news division of the CBC, Canada's public broadcaster. 4.8M subscribers and 3.4B views.

How did the election go so wrong for the B.C. NDP? | Power & Politics

Things we can learn from the video

Press to jump

0:49Eby announces he will offer his resignation as premier after the Conservative majority victory.
1:00DeRosa outlines Doerkson's fiscal priorities, review plans and potential First Nations consultation challenges.
7:19Harrison contrasts Eby's early-election miscalculation with the Conservatives' campaign discipline.
8:38Lavigne criticizes the snap-election decision and examines the collapse in NDP voter turnout.
11:03Kattar argues voters rejected political opportunism; Russo later emphasizes broad coalitions and positive campaigning.
16:35Lavigne recommends that the NDP take time before selecting a permanent leader.

Calling an election early was supposed to give David Eby's government another mandate. Instead, British Columbia's New Democratic Party is preparing for opposition, and even a former NDP national campaign director is delivering a scathing assessment of the decision.

Brad Lavigne calls it political malpractice in a discussion on Power & Politics from Canada's public broadcaster, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC News). The program examines a Conservative majority victory it describes as the party's first in nearly a century, and asks how Eby's gamble unraveled.

The opening footage contrasts premier-designate Lorne Doerkson's celebrations with Eby's concession. "Sad to say that I'll be offering my resignation as Premier, obviously," Eby says.

Reporter Katie DeRosa outlines Doerkson's fiscal priorities and plans to scrutinize provincial spending. In a campaign clip, he promises: "On day one, we will launch an independent review of the province's finances." DeRosa also identifies consultation with First Nations as a potential challenge for the incoming government.

The panel offers several explanations for the result rather than a single verdict. Conservative analyst Kate Harrison points to Eby's miscalculation in calling the election and the Conservatives' disciplined campaign. Lavigne focuses on the collapse in NDP voter turnout. Former Justin Trudeau adviser Vandana Kattar argues that voters rejected political opportunism, while examining the coalition of voters that supported Doerkson.

The Economist's Canada correspondent, Rob Russo, places that coalition in British Columbia's history of alliances between conservative and liberal voters. He also emphasizes the value of an optimistic campaign, urging politicians to be the "happy warrior."

Outgoing deputy premier Niki Sharma puts responsibility for the election timing with the leader, saying Eby had his reasons. For the party's next step, Lavigne recommends patience: the NDP should not rush to choose a permanent replacement before it has worked through the defeat.