B.C. Premier John Horgan announced yesterday that the province will have an election Oct. 24, 2020, a year early. 

He made the announcement in a Facebook livestream from his community in Langford.  

Horgan compared Langford with other middle-class communities in B.C., saying they are made of hard-working people who are trying to make the best of every situation and know they are blessed to live in B.C. 

He also says they are worried about their future and the impacts of COVID-19, and “they want to make sure that their government is secure and stable and focused 24-7 on their needs, their hopes and their aspirations.”  

On Sept. 21, Horgan met with the B.C. Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin, who granted his request to dissolve the legislative assembly, meaning a general election will be held Oct. 24.  

Horgan says he made the decision considering the challenges COVID-19 has brought this year. Horgan says B.C. is just at the beginning of COVID-19 and delaying the election will cause more instability and uncertainty over the next year. 

Premier Horgan says he wants British Columbians to be able to share what they think and to “put the politics behind us”. 

“Let’s address the differences we may have now so that we can all come together after the 24th of October, focused as we should be on the needs of all British Columbians.” 

Horgan says he believes waiting 12 months for the next four-year term would be time wasted, when they could be beginning work sooner. 

Watch the full address here: