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

Composite photo of the leaders of five parties running in the B.C. election (clockwise from top left): NDP's David Eby, Conservatives Lorne Doerkson, OneBC's Dallas Brodie, CentreBC's Elenore Sturko and Greens' Emily Lowan. Credit: Postmedia Postmedia

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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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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“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.”

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Doerkson, meanwhile, faced heat 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.”

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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

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Both leaders spent the majority of the debate focused on their economic and affordability plans, with Eby touting 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.

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He attacked Doerkson over the Conservative’s 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.

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“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,