Party leaders prep for only televised debate of B.C.'s election campaign

Leaders of British Columbia’s three main political parties will meet tonight for the province’s only televised debate before voters head to the polls on October 19.

The 90-minute debate, airing from 6:30 to 8 p.m., will provide a final opportunity for candidates to make their case directly to the public as advance voting begins Friday. Early voting will take place from October 10 to 13 and again from October 15 to 16 across the province.

The leaders previously clashed in a radio debate last week, exchanging sharp words over affordability, health care, and the opioid crisis — three of the top issues driving the election. Each sought to question the others’ ability to lead the next provincial government while outlining their own plans for B.C.’s economy and social programs.

Tonight’s debate is expected to help shape voter sentiment heading into the final stretch of the campaign, with parties intensifying their outreach efforts in key battleground ridings across Metro Vancouver and the Interior.