Has Eby done enough to be elected as B.C. premier?

It was on Oct. 20, 2022, that David Eby won the B.C. NDP leadership race after his only challenger, Anjali Appadurai, was disqualified.

And with that, he was sworn in as the 37th premier of British Columbia the following November.

Eby got to work quickly, casting himself as a leader who “hit the ground running”. His first move came during his swearing-in ceremony, where he announced two affordability credits in the form of BC Hydro rebates.

He’s faced persistent challenges during his time in the premier’s office, including high-profile public safety issues, rising interest rates, frequent ER closures, and a lack of affordable housing.

At the time, Eby declared his “white hot anger” on public safety, vowing to get tough on prolific offenders. He broke from political orthodoxy and wrote a letter to the Bank of Canada asking them not to raise interest rates any further. He also introduced multiple programs aimed at attracting more healthcare workers to B.C. — though ER closures remain a stubborn issue in much of the province, including in parts of the Lower Mainland.

Perhaps the most notable moves from Eby were on housing. He created a brand new housing ministry led by MLA Ravi Kahlon that introduced sweeping changes to B.C.’s zoning laws, banned short-term rentals, eliminated the need for public hearings on rezoning applications, and required minimum density standards around transit hubs.

But the winds of political change haven’t been favourable for Eby. When he was in office, his primary opponent was Kevin Falcon and the B.C. United.

That party no longer exists, and Eby is facing a fierce challenge from the BC Conservatives under John Rustad.

As the conservatives highlight persistent issues like public safety, health care, and the high cost of living, Eby has put on the defensive.

Eby has now backtracked on issues like the carbon tax, saying he would get rid of the price on carbon if Ottawa removes the legal backstop for it — despite championing the carbon tax for years.

He’s also promised to bring in involuntary care for people suffering from drug addiction, mental health issues, and acquired brain injuries.

With the latest polls showing a tight race in the upcoming provincial election, Eby is crisscrossing the province trying to make his case to voters that the NDP is still the right party to lead B.C.

Will it be enough for Eby to return to the office of premier?

We’ll find out on Oct. 19.