B.C.'s NDP government survives non-confidence vote brought forward by Conservatives

Premier David Eby speaks to reporters from his office in Victoria on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government has survived a non-confidence vote late Wednesday after the Opposition Conservative party wasted no time in trying to overthrow the NDP.

In a vote that split along party lines, a motion brought forward by Opposition leader John Rustad was narrowly defeated, with every Conservative member voting for while both BC Green Party representatives voted against alongside NDP members.

Rustad’s motion was to amend the throne speech to declare that the legislature does not have confidence in the government.

Prior to presenting the motion, Rustad made his party’s case for dissolving government, saying the province “has never been more vulnerable.”

“Our budget is completely out-of-hand,” he said. “Our affordability has never been worse in this province. Housing has never been worse in this province. Our economy is struggling … people have lost confidence in being able to invest in this province.”

The Opposition leader told reporters earlier in the day that he promised on election night that he would try to bring down the government at the earliest possible opportunity.

He said Wednesday was technically the earliest opportunity for the Conservative party to bring a confidence vote on the government.

A successful vote of non-confidence could have forced the government to dissolve, which would have set off a provincial election.

In a written statement after the vote, B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said the motion — had it passed — would have triggered an election that “British Columbians don’t want.”

“British Columbians know that our province is facing one of the greatest economic threats in our history,” Kahlon said. “(U.S. President) Donald Trump’s unjustified tariffs are threatening our economy and the livelihoods of countless Canadians.”

B.C. Premier David Eby told reporters earlier that it’s “bizarre” the Conservatives would introduce a non-confidence motion onto the throne speech, which in itself is a confidence motion, “in an attempt to drive to an election.”

The NDP holds 47 seats to the Opposition B.C. Conservatives' 44 members, while the Green Party holds two seats and has agreed to support the New Democrats on motions of confidence.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2025.

Marcy Nicholson, The Canadian Press