B.C. premier asks voters to re-elect NDP MPs after Mulcair's call for strategic votes

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, centre walks with B.C. Premier David Eby following a federal election campaign stop in Victoria, B.C. on Monday, March 31, 2025. Eby has appeared in a video posted on Singh's X social media account alongside the federal leader, asking voters in B.C. to "re-elect NDP MPs to make sure they're out there advocating for Canadians every day." THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

VICTORIA — British Columbia’s New Democrat premier is throwing his support behind NDP incumbents seeking re-election, despite calls for strategic voting by a former party leader.

David Eby appears alongside federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in a video posted on Singh’s X social media account, asking voters in B.C. to “re-elect NDP MPs to make sure they’re out there advocating for Canadians every day.”

Eby says in the video that the federal New Democrats warrant the support of voters after helping deliver dental care programs and Pharmacare, which gives Canadians access to affordable medications.

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The message comes after former federal New Democrat leader Tom Mulcair wrote in an op-ed for BNN Bloomberg last week that voters should avoid vote-splitting and cast their ballots strategically.

Mulcair said the threat presented by U.S. President Donald Trump has turned the federal election into a two-party race between the Liberals and the Conservatives, calling other parties “an afterthought.”

Singh says in a joint statement that Eby’s government and NDP MPs have fought together “and won things that make life better for British Columbians.”

Eby’s backing for NDP incumbents comes as a new poll by Leger for the Association for Canadian Studies says zero per cent of decided New Democrat supporters believe their party is the best for dealing with Trump.

The poll says the top reason NDP voters gave when asked why they support the party was Singh, at 28 per cent.

The poll suggests 21 per cent of Liberal supporters are voting for Leader Mark Carney because he is seen as “the best option to stand up to” Trump.

Only three per cent of Conservative voters say their support for Leader Pierre Poilievre is due to his ability to deal with the Trump White House.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 4, 2025.