VANCOUVER, September 22, 2026 — Mayor Ken Sim and the ABC Vancouver team are calling out B.C. Premier David Eby on his announcement of a snap provincial election while Vancouver and 187 other municipalities are in the middle of local government elections. Vancouver’s civic election period is already underway, with voting day on Saturday, October 17.
“British Columbia has separate election cycles for a reason. That principle shouldn’t be set aside because the timing looks politically convenient,” Sim said.”Let’s be frank about what a snap election costs at a time when this province is already carrying a record and growing deficit. The last one billed taxpayers more than $50 million. And if an election is coming regardless, what is the harm in waiting 25 days until Vancouver and every other community in this province has finished voting? There is no version of this where calling it now, instead of after October 17, serves anyone but the governing party’s own interest.”
“Local elections are not a scheduling inconvenience. They decide who runs Vancouver’s police board, who sets our housing policy, who manages billions of dollars in city services. Right now they also decide something more urgent: whether this city moves forward with the compassionate intervention measures our public safety plebiscite is putting directly to voters on October 17. That is not a conversation Victoria should be drowning out.”
“Logistically it will be a challenge for Elections BC to manage two elections at the same time, including advanced voting and election day. It is important to make sure every single Vancouverite and British Columbian has the opportunity to vote.”
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