Eby says he’ll trigger an early election if the northern power line bill doesn’t pass

October 29,2025

RED FM News Desk

British Columbia Premier David Eby says he is willing to stake his government on passing a bill that would fast-track construction of the North Coast Transmission Line, a project intended to supply power to future resource developments in northwestern B.C.

Eby says an early election is the last thing he wants, but his government “will be ready if necessary” to head to the polls should Bill 31 fail to pass through the legislature.

With the NDP holding only a one-seat majority, Eby notes that without the backing of the two Green MLAs, there is “a very narrow margin” for the bill’s approval — which he describes as “non-negotiable.”

A Conservative motion to delay the bill by six months was defeated on Tuesday, 48 votes to 40.

Eby calls the multibillion-dollar North Coast Transmission Line “crucially important” for British Columbians, saying it will create 10,000 new jobs. He adds that any effort to block or postpone the bill “is a direct threat to British Columbia’s economic prosperity — something the province cannot afford.”