Eby touts public health, says Conservatives would turn B.C. into ‘America Junior’

“It costs us hundreds of thousands of dollars to train a new doctor or a new nurse.”

Eby said the NDP has set a goal of recruiting 2,400 more health workers from across the border in a renewed campaign that would expand into Republican-controlled states, with laws that restrict the provision of reproductive health care.

“If we turn our province into America Junior, we put all of that at risk,” he said.

Eby questioned why a health-care worker would uproot their life and move to B.C. if the province had the same hallmarks as the American system, characterizing it as “private health-care with big corporations” and “culture wars” dictating treatment.

The Conservatives under former leader John Rustad had campaigned on a promise to expand private clinics to help fix what he called a system in crisis.

Eby also highlighted the prosperity agreement between B.C. and Ottawa, unveiled in July, saying it comes with federal funding to advance major projects including liquefied natural gas facilities and the expansions of a mine and several ports.

Eby said the same Conservatives running under Lorne Doerkson, the interim leader, had opposed the deal with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government.

“Whether it’s any one of the last four leaders of the Conservatives in the last 10 months, the ideas are the same,” he said.

A Conservative news release from the time, quoting two of the legislators who flanked Doerkson as he addressed reporters in Vancouver on Tuesday, criticized the agreement for maintaining the tanker ban along B.C.’s North Coast.

Eby’s campaign meanwhile lost another high-profile legislator as former finance minister Brenda Bailey announced she wouldn’t run for re-election, becoming the fourth cabinet minister to step away.

Bailey left the finance portfolio to take on the Jobs Ministry in August as she underwent cancer treatment. In a statement issued Wednesday, Bailey said she’d had surgery and she was happy to be cancer free.

But she said she wouldn’t run again in her riding of Vancouver-South Granville, calling the decision “incredibly difficult.”

Still, Bailey said while she is not yet fully recovered, she would hit the campaign trail to support the NDP.

Health Minister Ravi Kahlon, Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene and Agriculture Minister Lana Popham have already said they wouldn’t seek re-election.

Asked about Kahlon’s decision on Wednesday, Eby said he was “heartbroken” over the loss of an incredible member of his team.

However, Eby said he understood Kahlon’s need to prioritize his family.

Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth and Energy Minister Adrian Dix confirmed Wednesday they were seeking re-election in their Metro Vancouver ridings.

In Saanich South, the NDP announced the candidacy of legislative journalist turned communications executive Richard Zussman.

BC Green Leader Emily Lowan meanwhile announced she plans to run in what is considered a safe riding for her party in the Victoria area.

Green Party member Rob Botterell — who was part of a Green caucus of two with Jeremy Valeriote since the 2024 election — announced he wouldn’t run again in Saanich North and the Islands, where Lowan will fill the Greens’ spot.

Lowan, who’s never had a seat in the legislature, said both major parties have lost the confidence of B.C. residents, but the Greens offer a different vision.

“The Greens are ready to serve with conviction, not stoke fears or squabble in division,” she told reporters in Victoria on Wednesday.

Lowan said just two Greens had made a difference in the legislature.

“In this election, we have a path to grow and hold the balance of power,” she said. “We can hold the government to account and get real results to make our province safer, healthier and more democratic.”

The snap election comes at an “exhausting” time for people in B.C., made worse by the trade conflict,” Lowan said.

She said Eby could have used his majority government to provide relief to B.C. businesses, but he instead plunged the province into an early election.

Lowan said the Greens were gearing up to field a full slate of candidates, though the majority of their electoral resources would be focused on southern Vancouver Island.

The Saanich North riding turned Green when Adam Olsen won in 2017 with almost 42 per cent of the vote.

Valeriote said he would run again in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky.

B.C.’s chief electoral officer, Shipra Verma, said Elections BC was also planning for the election and needs to hire 17,000 people if it’s to deliver the same services as it did in 2024.

Verma said the last election cost $91 million and Elections BC initially asked for $50 million for preparation for the current vote, but the full cost will be reported later.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2026.

— With files from Nono Shen and Brenna Owen

Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Eby touts public health, says Conservatives would turn B.C. into ‘America Junior’

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