Vancouver Rundown

NDP leader David Eby promises a crackdown on the rich if re-elected premier. Eby says a new NDP government would make sure those earning more than $190,000 would pay additional taxes. A new tax bracket would also be made for those earning over $1M a year. During a Sunday campaign stop in Comox, Eby also said that means over 96 per cent of British Columbians would see no new provincial tax increases. BC’s election day is Oct. 24.

The BC Conservatives promise no new taxes and to never raise taxes for British Columbians. Leader Lorne Doerkson’s first campaign promises came during a stop in Surrey on Sunday. The NDP has responded by saying that announcement puts government services at risk. The Conservatives have yet to name candidates in several Surrey ridings including Cloverdale, Fleetwood, Guildford and Newton.

A child killer who murdered a 10-year-old girl in Surrey has been granted a 60-day, unescorted pass from prison so he can attend a cooking school. The Parole Board of Canada has approved the leave for Shane Robert Ertmoed who is serving a life sentence for first degree murder. Ertmoed abducted, sexually assaulted and killed Heather Thomas on Oct. 1, 2020. Heather was playing outside her father’s Cloverdale townhouse complex when she was abducted. Her body was found a week later in Alouette Lake.

NDP leader David Eby has opened his re-election campaign by promising more major projects to rebuild B.C.’s economy. The ‘Build B.C. Strong’ slogan leans into investments including $3.5B to expand FortisBC’s Tilbury LNG expansion. Recent polling indicates the NDP lags other parties in terms of voter confidence in economic leadership.

Former BC Conservative leader John Rustad has announced he will not be seeking re-election. The Nechako Lakes MLA was booted from the party by short-lived leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay but invited back after she quit. Rustad now says it’s time for an older generation of politicians to step aside. Four NDP MLAs have also announced they will not be running in this snap election.

David Eby has called a snap election for Oct. 24. That’s two years ahead of schedule as Eby says he needs a strong mandate in the face of Donald Trump’s trade war. The election also comes after embattled BC Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay stepped down. Many reporters and political watchers are questioning Eby’s election call in light of problems within the BC Conservative Party.

Meanwhile, upstart political party CentreBC has lost seven of it eight MLAs to the newly regrouped Conservatives. That includes party leader Peter Milobar who will now be replaced by Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Elanor Sturko. The Conservatives managed to get 44 seats in the Legislature following the last election - the party now has 28 MLAs.

Also - Health Minister Ravi Kahlon says he will not run in the election. The North Delta MLA says the time is right for the next champion to step forward and carry on his work. Kahlon has thanked the people of North Delta who elected him three times. He says it’s now time to focus on his family.

The BC Conservatives now say the party is ready for any snap election. That word comes from interim leader Lorne Doerkson a day after Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned from the role. Doerkson tells Global News six MLAs who left the party have been invited back. Original leader and MLA John Rustad is already saying he is rejoining. The move comes ahead of the Abbotsford-Mission byelection which still has Findlay representing the Conservatives.

Kerry-Lynne Findlay has bailed on leading the BC Conservatives. The embattled far-right politicians has quit only four months after being chosen leader of the Conservatives. Her resignation follows a mass exodus of Conservative MLAs who’ve quit over Findlay’s leadership style. It also comes after several top party staff members have either quit or been fired over the summer and the discovery the party hired a private investigator to look into political rivals and members of the media. Findlay’s says too much energy has been spent on party infighting instead of challenging the NDP and preparing to form government.

BC Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay is shrugging off any suggestions that she should step down after new allegations her party used donor funds to hire a private investigator to spy on critics. The development comes as the party tries to find the owner of a social media account, known as The Findlay Files, which posts leaked internal information about party infighting. Findlay is seeking a seat in the BC Legislature and campaigning in the Abbotsford-Mission byelection. Premier David Eby has been hinting he’ll call a snap election.

David Eby hints B.C. may be heading for a snap election. The premier dropped even more hints Wednesday suggesting the NDP is ‘election ready.’ Eby admits his party’s hold on power is fragile following the passing of MLA Joan Phillip. Under normal circumstances, the next provincial election would be Oct. 21, 2028. However, many political watchers believe the BC Conservatives are struggling with a lack of confidence in leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay who is currently campaigning in the Abbotsford-Mission byelection.

A man from New Westminster has been charged with child-sex crimes in Canada after an international investigation resulting from a tip to the RCMP’s child exploitation unit. Five children in the Philippines have been rescued after officers in B.C. shared information dating back to 2023. Gerard Saunders is now charged with possession of child sex abuse material, making that material and trying to lure a child. Police say the mother of the children also faces child-sex exploitation charges.