KRUGGEL: Before calling an election, Eby would be smart to get his lies straight first, and actually address the economy

In a commentary in the Hill Times today,  Andrew Caddell wrote that:

BC’s Eby may not be long for the job

The premier won’t have time to turn the economy around as the prospect of an election this year looms large.

The article really doesn't give us any meat to argue that an election or a palace coup is on the horizon. In fact, people keep saying there's an early election coming but no one calls an early election when they have a majority and their lead in the polls isn't solid. 

 

It is practical politics 101. If you control the date of the next election then you pick a date that works best for you. 

 

The only reason, if I were Eby right now, to call an early election would be because the BC Conservatives are in the middle of a leadership race and I have a slight lead in the polls. 

 

That sounds great on paper. Except, there is a whole lot of bad news also on that paper concerning large numbers of voters:

 

1. an economy in decline
2. the issue of private property and title (no one can ignore the fear that generates)
3. a ballooning debt and deficit
4. a government that reneged on all of its previous election promises
5. they raised taxes on the poor and middle class

 

A person could disagree with my characterization of things but I've written those out like that because that's how things will play in an election. That's the messaging that will be blared over social media, radio, and television. 

 

People should keep in mind as well that in 2024 the BC Conservatives were all novices. They had no idea what they were doing. They had little coherent messaging among party candidates. They had little discipline. They had no proper campaign structure. 

 

That's not the case this time. 

 

Eby would be smart to ride out 2026. Of course, he'd be smart to get his lies straight first, and actually address the economy.