The Tyee Podcast: What’s This Provincial Election About?

To many, B.C. Premier David Eby’s snap election call seemed like an odd choice. The government still had two years in its mandate. Big questions — like the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the budget deficit — were left unanswered. Plus, all the best lawn sign spots had already been claimed by candidates for municipal government.

If The Tyee’s Victoria bureau chief is put off, he’s not showing it. Andrew MacLeod said the election call has morphed into something of an early Christmas.

“When they called it, I was definitely in the camp of, like, ‘Do we really need to do this now?’” he said. “But there are announcements every day, and there are people arguing about ideas, and you get into the spirit of it. So it is kind of fun.”

MacLeod has covered seven previous provincial elections and nearly two decades’ worth of provincial politicking for The Tyee. This election cycle is no different. This week, he gives us the long view on campaign-trail drama and breaks down what this election is really about.

Listen to this episode by clicking the embedded podcast player below or by following ‘The Tyee Podcast’ on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , iHeartRadio , Amazon Music , Pocket Casts or YouTube .

Note: Episode transcripts may contain errors. Always check the corresponding audio before quoting any part of the transcript.

Harrison Mooney: Last time on the Tyee Podcast: the Vancouver municipal election. This time: the B.C. provincial election. Loyal listeners may be asking: what’s with the focus on politics all of a sudden? Didn’t you talk to J.B. MacKinnon a couple months back about his favourite cherry blossom trees?

The Tyee Podcast publishes two episodes a month, and this month, we happen to have two elections, back-to-back, just seven days apart. It’s not my fault that David Eby called a snap election for a fortnight after voting for the mayor. Why would he do that?

I don’t know, loyal listener. But as the longest-running podcast host in Tyee history, it’s my privilege to know who to ask.

This is the Tyee Podcast. Every week we dive deeper into the stories shaping the West Coast. Because Canada needs more B.C. I’m Harrison Mooney. And today I’m speaking with Andrew MacLeod, The Tyee British Columbia legislative bureau chief. He talks about party promises, campaign confusion, and what this election is really about.

Andrew, it’s a snap election surprise, hooray! Yeah, it’s time to put on your parliament pants and brush up on the issues. It’s Christmas for policy wonks. Are you ready? Are you stoked? Is this what you live for?

Andrew MacLeod: You know honestly when they called it, I was definitely in the camp of like, do we really need to do this now? You know, in my view, the government had two years left in their mandate. They had a small majority, but a workable majority. You know, they had managed for two years, and I and I kind of thought they would maybe just get on with governing, you know, do some of the things that need to be done. So I was not particularly excited when they called it. And then yeah, within the space of a few days, as a reporter, you know, it is it is a little bit like Christmas in October.