British Columbia’s election campaign is officially underway. Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin signed the order for the October 19 vote on Saturday.
New Democratic Party Leader David Eby travelled to Richmond where he was greeted by cheering supporters lining the street.
Eby, who spoke to a packed room where it seemed everyone was wearing the NDP’s orange, said British Columbia faces many difficult challenges, including affordable housing, public health care, mental health and addictions and the cost of living.
But he pledged to be “laser-focused” on solving the problems.
“We cannot divide ourselves,” he said. “The only way we can solve these problems is by working together. This is my commitment to you, to everyone in this room, to all British Columbians: we will not rest until the job is done.”
British Columbia Conservative Leader John Rustad launched his party’s campaign in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside at CRAB Park, which has a long history of homeless encampments.
But the leaders did not wait for the official start of the election campaign to get started.
David Eby began his campaign early Friday by boarding the party bus and heading straight to the Metro Vancouver city of Surrey, which is expected to be a major battleground for the New Democrats and the B.C. Conservatives.
The BC NDP campaign bus and the party leader will make several stops across the Lower Mainland on the first full day of campaigning, including North Vancouver, Langley, Burnaby and Richmond.
CRAB Park, where Mr. Rustad launched his campaign, is a Vancouver neighbourhood where the city recently spent thousands of dollars to clean up a homeless camp.
The Conservative leader will be on Vancouver Island later Saturday.
Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau is in Victoria for what the party has called its biggest canvassing campaign yet to connect with voters.