Eby calls early B.C. election amid U.S. trade tensions

British Columbia Premier David Eby has called a provincial election for October 24, two years before the next vote was scheduled, saying U.S. trade pressure has changed conditions in the province. The campaign will overlap with municipal elections scheduled for October 17, while the opposition is undergoing leadership changes and a party merger. Eby said President Donald Trump’s tariffs and threats are putting pressure on Canadian workers and businesses and threatening the country’s ability to make decisions for itself. He argued the province should reduce its reliance on the United States, protect local industries and find other markets. Eby said British Columbia exports to the U.S. had fallen 4 per cent while exports to other markets rose 16 per cent. Those figures were presented by Eby and were not independently verified in the available accounts. The premier said the election would let voters choose the province’s direction in response to the trade dispute. He also vowed to keep American alcohol, including Jack Daniel’s, off provincial shelves until Canada reaches what he called a fair deal with the United States.