VICTORIA — B.C. Premier John Horgan is meeting with Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin today amid speculation he will call a provincial election.
Horgan has called an 11 a.m. news conference (British Columbia time) following the meeting with the lieutenant-governor.
A statement from Horgan’s press secretary says the premier “will address how British Columbians deserve a say in our economic recovery and will decide the future of our province.”
B.C. has a fixed election date set for October 2021, but Horgan has said recently he was considering his political options.
The news comes as Horgan repeatedly failed to deny he was contemplating a snap election for the fall. Currently, Horgan is leading a minority government under a “confidence and supply agreement” signed in 2017 with the B.C. Green Party.
Since early last week, five of the B.C. NDP’s cabinet ministers announced they wouldn’t be seeking re-election: Forest Minister Doug Donaldson, Indigenous Relations Minister Scott Fraser, Jobs Minister Michelle Mungall, Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy and Transportation Minister Claire Trevena.
Social Development Minister Shane Simpson also won’t be seeking re-election. Finance Minister Carole James announced in March that she would not be seeking re-election after being diagnosed with Parkison’s disease.
Meanwhile, the Greens announced Sonia Furstenau as their new leader on Sept. 13, who told supporters at the time that her party will be ready for any pending election.
BC Liberal and Opposition Leader Andrew Wilkinson has called on Horgan to stick to focusing on the ongoing pandemic.