Eby signals PST delay, BC Ferries build in B.C. at UBCM while provincial election remains unsaid

The Story

B.C. Premier David Eby used his address at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) conference in Vancouver to deliver a slate of policy and economic updates, while avoiding any direct mention of a provincial election despite ongoing speculation about whether one could be called this fall.

Eby’s remarks came after the speculation that a snap provincial vote might be announced this season. For now, he did not describe any immediate provincial election plans, but he did note that residents would instead be preparing for the scheduled municipal elections across British Columbia.

Municipal elections are set for Oct. 17 across the province, and Eby’s comments at UBCM effectively kept the focus on that date. The province’s next scheduled provincial election is Oct. 2028, though the premier retains the authority to call an election earlier than that timeline if he chooses.

One of the most consequential items Eby raised concerned the previously planned expansion of the provincial sales tax (PST). He said the expansion would be delayed until B.C. is “clear of” the Trump trade war, pushing back changes that were previously set to take effect on Oct. 1.

Under the earlier plan, the PST expansion would have resulted in residents paying more for certain services and goods starting Oct. 1. Eby’s announcement reframes that start date by linking the timing of the tax-related changes to when trade pressures ease, which would change the financial impact on households and businesses expecting those costs.

Eby also addressed sector-specific trade and import decisions. He said B.C. would not stock a single bottle of U.S. alcohol until it sees support from the Trump administration for the forest sector, tying the province’s response to actions affecting forestry.

Beyond taxes and alcohol, Eby said the next generation of BC Ferries vessels would be built in British Columbia, reversing an earlier plan that had indicated the ships would be produced in China and drawing backlash. The change affects long-term procurement and local industry expectations tied to major transportation infrastructure.

For businesses facing direct uncertainty tied to tariffs and trade-related measures, Eby said support would roll out for companies impacted by tariffs. In the statement referenced with his UBCM remarks, he framed the delay of the PST and related changes as providing “breathing room” while businesses navigate tariffs and bans and pivot to other markets.

Eby’s comments concluded without using the word “election,” leaving the speculation unresolved until he speaks directly to reporters. The question of whether a provincial election could be called remains present in the political context, particularly given that Eby’s address did not address the timing directly.

The political backdrop also includes public polling and shifting caucus dynamics. The item notes that Eby’s approval rating has risen to higher levels than at any point earlier in the year, while Angus Reid data cited in the piece indicates the B.C. NDP holds a small lead over the Conservatives.

At the same time, the item says 51 per cent of respondents to an Angus Reid survey described feeling like a “political orphan” without a party they could “enthusiastically support.” It also reports that B.C. Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay has faced increasing pressure after nine MLAs left the Conservative caucus within a span of three weeks, altering the landscape compared with two years earlier when Eby won by the narrowest margin against then-Conservative leader John Rustad. The immediate practical significance for local communities is that near-term cost changes tied to the PST expansion and other trade measures have been shifted, while municipal elections remain the confirmed vote on the calendar.