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Advance Voting Begins in B.C. Election as Conservatives Withhold Costed Platform

Voters must judge big infrastructure and tax promises without clear funding details as questions grow over the province’s rising debt.

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Kevin Acton (left) is the B.C. Conservative candidate for Vernon-Lumby and Lisa Phillips (right) is the B.C. Conservative candidate for Vancouver-South Granville. Credit: conservativebc.ca.
From left, Kareem Allam - Vancouver Liberals, Colleen Hardwick - TEAM, Pete Fry - Green, Rebecca Bligh - Vote Vancouver and Ken Sim - ABC at all candidates debate hosted by Stuart McNish Oct. 8.
B.C. Conservative interim Leader Lorne Doerkson speaks during the televised B.C. Leaders' Debate ahead of the provincial election, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Overview

  • Advance voting opened Friday before the B.C. Conservatives published a costed platform, and interim leader Lorne Doerkson said a full plan would be released “imminently.”
  • The Conservatives have pledged to scrap the Massey Tunnel replacement for a new 10‑lane bridge between Richmond and Delta, finish the delayed Surrey Cloverdale hospital, build a women’s and children’s hospital, and cut income taxes without providing public costings.
  • The NDP and Greens released costed platforms this week that include targeted promises such as eliminating the $45 bus pass fee for low‑income seniors and $250 million to expand Surrey–White Rock rapid bus service, and Green proposals for sectoral bargaining and annual minimum‑wage increases above inflation.
  • The Globe and Mail editorial and other coverage have raised fresh fiscal alarms by citing projections that taxpayer‑supported debt could reach roughly 37.4% of GDP by fiscal 2029 and questioned whether many campaign commitments are affordable.
  • Candidate controversies and endorsements are reshaping local races: a Conservative candidate was removed over alleged Holocaust‑related online remarks, another drew criticism for comments on treaties, and Grand Chief Stewart Phillip endorsed the Greens in a Vancouver Island riding.