Provincial general election feels imminent — will the writ drop this week?

H ave you not had enough politics in your life lately? Has the municipal election campaign underway right now and heading toward Election Day on Oct. 17 not satisfied your appetite for debate and listening to campaign speeches.

Well, you’re in for a treat when Premier David Eby drops the writ sometime this week triggering a provincial election.

Sources are telling Decafnation that the election machinery will be in place for an election call by the end of this week or early next week, possibly overlapping the local government campaign already in progress.

The Green Party leader, Emily Lowen, has hinted about an imminent election in her social media posts, as have some MLAs.

Courtenay-Comox MLA Brennan Day says he will make an announcement in the next few days about whether he runs as an independent or some other option.

There’s another sign that something is afoot. Courtenay Councillor Will Cole-Hamilton withdrew from his previously announced municipal re-election bid last Friday.

By calling an election now, the NDP will have an advantage over a Conservative Party that has ruptured over its controversial far-right leader.

There have been rumours that conservatives who fled the party to sit as independents – such as Courtenay-Comox MLA Brennan Day – may form a new, right-of-center third party. But it’s doubtful they will have time to organize for an early fall campaign.

Depending on when Eby asks the Lt. Governor to dissolve the Legislature, the provincial campaign will run about 28 days, with general voting always taking place on a Saturday. But special circumstances outlined in the BC Elections Act could extend that period to a maximum of 38 days.

Because the BC campaign might overlap the municipal races, that may affect the timing of provincial nominations and the final Election Day.

But Decafnation’s sources say the premier is not waiting for the local government campaigns to complete on Oct. 17.

“Dropping the writ” is a reference to official documents the Lt. Governor signs, called “Writs of Election.” They certify that an election is underway, and set the date for the final voting day.

In the last BC general elections on Oct. 19, 2024, more than 2.1 million valid ballots were cast. More people voted in advance polls by a slim margin over the final voting day.

The NDP won 47 seats with 44.9 percent of the vote, a narrow win over the Conservative Party’s 44 seats with 44.3 percent of the vote.