Brenda Bailey says B.C. NDP loss reflected “inauthentic” campaign by David Eby

The Story

Brenda Bailey, a former top minister in David Eby’s government, said she believed the B.C. NDP’s crushing election loss amounted to “a harsh judgment” on Eby’s campaign and his decision to call a snap vote.

Bailey made the comments in an interview where she said she is taking a break from politics after undergoing successful cancer treatment. She said she had “a surgery and the surgery got all the cancer,” and that as of “last week” she felt “fully back to normal,” adding she had not had chemotherapy or radiation. Bailey also said she did not seek re-election in Vancouver-South Granville.

Bailey contrasted Eby’s campaign persona with premier-designate Lorne Doerkson, saying Doerkson is a “deeply authentic man” and “very likable,” and calling Doerkson’s appointment as interim leader of the B.C. Conservatives a “brilliant” move.

She said she views the election “through the lens of authenticity” and does not think Eby “came across as authentic.” Bailey cited two moments she said reflected problems with how Eby connected with voters: Eby’s Sept. 22 announcement of the election outside Government House, and a pre-election appearance where he wore a red-and-black checked jacket while the audience was warmed up by a parody rapper mocking U.S. President Donald Trump.

Bailey criticized Eby’s public justification for the snap election call, saying his explanation “wasn’t resonating, even with him.” She referenced Eby’s claim about the threat posed by Trump, calling it “perhaps the weakest presser I’ve ever seen the premier give.”

While Bailey said the election call was “quite defensible” because the government’s one-seat majority created a sense of instability and affected its ability to respond to U.S. tariffs, she said it did not land once Doerkson became the Conservatives’ interim leader. Bailey said that on the day Eby called the vote, Doerkson called Trump an “absolute bully” and said Canada would never be the 51st state.

Bailey also said the decision to go to the polls was made at an NDP caucus meeting on Sunday, Sept. 20, though she said she did not attend because she was “quite sick,” and that the decision was shared with her later.

She said she believes Eby had “many redeeming qualities,” but argued that “the lumber-jacket-at-the-border version of David Eby, it doesn’t work,” adding that people could tell it was not “who David Eby is.” Bailey said she believed Eby relied on explanations he thought would poll well rather than what he knew to be true.

Eby stepped down as NDP leader on election night after the Conservatives secured a two-thirds majority with 64 seats. The NDP fell from 47 seats to 27, ending nine years of NDP rule with Eby as premier since 2022.

Bailey said she remains an NDP member, but that “time will tell” whether she stays in the party, noting concerns about where it sits on fiscal and social policy. She said she wants a party that is “fiscally responsible” with “strong social goals.” She also said the NDP’s interim leader is Jennifer Whiteside, and when asked about becoming leader she said “absolutely none,” adding: “You couldn’t make me.”