B.C. Election: Eby, Doerkson and Lowan spar over economic vision in televised leader's debate

In a televised debate long on policy and short on fireworks, the leaders of B.C.’s three largest political parties put forward competing visions for the economy, ranging from tax cuts to major projects and universal child care.

NDP Leader David Eby, Conservative interim leader Lorne Doerkson and Green Leader Emily Lowan were led through a series of topics on key issues by moderator Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, over the course of almost two hours in downtown Vancouver on Wednesday night.

Right at the outset, Eby was challenged on his decision to call a snap election only two years after the last trip to the polls, despite his NDP government holding a majority in the legislature.

“When you have a one-seat majority, after you appoint the speaker, it’s tied, and so every vote potentially could bring down the government,” said Eby.

“This was not a government that was able to deliver the big swings that you and your family need government to be taking for you. We need a government with representatives from every part of the province that are focused on your priorities, not on culture wars, not on repealing the human rights code, but on the real issues that matter to you and your family.”

Doerkson, meanwhile, faced questions over comments reposted on social media by his campaign manager Katy Merrifield, including one calling Islam “a literal rape culture” and another calling New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani a “Jihadi-loving mayor.”

The Conservative leader defended Merrifield, saying she was reacting to events in the U.K. as a survivor of sexual assault and has since apologized and deleted the reposts.

He has already removed one candidate over a post targeting pro-Palestinian protesters, but said he will not be doing the same with his campaign chief.

“The reality is, is that this was a moment of trauma for this woman. I’ve given her certainly a moment to reflect on that, and I have worked with Katy for a while now,” said Doerkson.

“I will lead with an absolute commitment to respect and dignity going forth. I’ll expect it from my caucus.”

Both leaders spent the majority of the debate focused on their economic and affordability plans. Eby touted his plan to raise taxes on households making over $190,000 annually to fund the expansion of social services, while giving British Columbians a temporary break on the 10 cent per litre fuel tax.

He attacked Doerkson over the Conservatives’ plan to raise the amount of money British Columbians can make before paying income tax to $32,000, which some economists say could cost the provincial treasury up to $4 billion.

“I think he deserves, or British Columbians deserve, an explanation because we know what Conservatives do when they need money: they cut, they destroyed seniors care in this province, they closed schools, and they’ll do it again,” said Eby.

The NDP leader cited the building of hospitals and schools for his own government’s current projected record deficit of $13.8 billion and promised to address “wasteful spending.”

Doerkson, meanwhile, said his goal is to “supercharge” B.C.’s economy through the tax cut as well as a tripling of LNG production by 2035, the cutting of regulations and the temporary removal of the 10 per cent PST on Canadian liquor.

“We have to grow our economy in this province. It’s absolutely, fundamentally the case and we haven’t seen that in the last number of years, and we have to get back to some basics in this province,” he said.

“We have a forest industry that the infrastructure is there, but we have to support that industry to grow it. We’re talking about billions of dollars between forestry, LNG, even some improvements in the liquor industry.”

Lowan did not pipe up during the debate on leadership but did during debates on the economy, accusing Eby of making promises she doesn’t believe he has any intention of delivering, saying that “this year’s election bribes are next year’s broken promises.”

She did this while facing questions about her plan to put a one-time tax of five per cent on British Columbians worth over $50 million and whether that would lead to lowered investment in the province’s economy.

“I think British Columbians are tired of being stuck on your merry-go-round of broken promises and service cuts,” said Lowan. “When are we finally going to look at the diverse revenue sources we need that is going to generate genuine care for British Columbians?”

Other issues canvassed during the debate included the Conservatives’ plan to introduce a hybrid insurance model for ICBC, with Doerkson promising to keep premiums low while allowing British Columbians to sue for damages, and the issue of closed emergency rooms, with Eby saying it keeps him “awake at night” and that his government has been working to recruit more doctors.

At the end of the night, CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko and OneBC Leader Dallas Brodie were given a short opportunity to pitch B.C. voters on what they are offering, despite failing to nominate enough candidates to reach the debate stage.

While Brodie talked about her pledge to cut income taxes by 25 per cent and tackle what she calls the “reconciliation industry,” Sturko addressed why she believes British Columbians should give a smaller party a chance to hold the NDP and Conservatives to account.

“I’m not asking British Columbians to pretend that CentreBC will form government. I’m asking them a different question: Who will hold the next government accountable?” said Sturko.

Early voting for the 2026 provincial election begins Oct. 16 and final voting day is Oct. 24.