Dr. Bonnie Henry to go it alone with health briefings during the election

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Premier John Horgan calls an election

British Columbians are going to the polls a year earlier than planned Premier John Horgan has announced an election will be held on October the 24th. The next scheduled election was set for October of 2021. However, New Democrats hope a snap vote will turn the party’s 41-seat minority government into at least a 44-seat majority. Horgan is currently enjoying a 70 per cent approval rating in the polls, but he insists the snap election is not about politics.

"I have grappled with this. We have significant challenges ahead on the health front, on the economic front, and what instability that brings to our communities and our social fabric. I believe the best way to get going on the work ahead, is to put the politics behind us. I cannot imagine twelve more months of bickering, twelve more months of not knowing whether a bill would pass the legislature because of uncertainty in numbers. I think the best way forward is to resolve that now. And that's why we're doing this."—Premier John Horgan.

Nanaimo’s voters last went to the polls in January 2019 in a by-election for a seat that was left vacant when Leonard Krog resigned to become the city's mayor. Sheila Malcolmson won the byelection for the NDP with 49.88 per cent of the vote. In the 2017 provincial election, the NDP’s Doug Routley won the Nanaimo-North Cowichan riding. Both MLAs say they will run again in this provincial election.

Dr. Bonnie Henry to go it alone with Health Briefings during election

Meanwhile, today's election call means the current Minister of Health, Adrian Dix, will not be taking part in the regular COVID-19 briefings. Starting today, only the Provincial Health Officer will attend those briefings. Dr Bonnie Henry explains why:

"It would not be appropriate for him being on the campaign and have the opportunity to speak publicly twice a week. But he will very much be involved in ensuring the ongoing management of the crisis, along with Minister James who is the caretaker-minister during this period."—Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

Henry says as provincial health officer, she has the power to make health orders without the consent of the government. However, she says she intends to continue to advise and consult with government ministers including Dix and James. Meanwhile, Henry and BC's Chief Electoral Officer will release the details of the COVID election safety plan tomorrow.

Monday COVID-19 update

Today's COVID-19 numbers, compiled since last Friday show there have been 366 new infections in BC over the past three days. There have been seven new cases of the virus in the Island Health region during that time. That our active case count to eleven. There were four deaths from the coronavirus in BC since Friday and none in Island Health.