B.C. election timing secured pensions for 12 MLAs

British Columbia Premier David Eby called the snap provincial election for Oct. 24, 2026, one day after several legislators secured their pension rights. Had the vote occurred earlier, outgoing MLAs first elected in 2020 would have received no pension.

Twelve legislators passed the six-year service threshold on Oct. 23, 2026. Nine were from the NDP and three from the Conservative Party.

“David Eby said the timing was because of the threat to British Columbian jobs and cost of living posed by U.S. tariffs, and the fact that B.C. NDP MLAs were being forced to vote from their hospital beds because one empty seat could have brought the government down.”

Among them were former Finance minister Brenda Bailey and former Emergency Management minister Kelly Greene, both of whom did not seek re-election. Susie Chant and Harwinder Sandhu also secured pensions but lost their seats.

Re-elected MLAs who reached the threshold included Brittny Anderson, Jennifer Whiteside, Niki Sharma, Josie Osborne and Grace Lore of the NDP, along with Lorne Doerkson, Bruce Banman and Trevor Halford of the Conservatives.

Pension rules date back to 2007 and provide an annual accrual rate of 3.5 percent of the highest three-year average earnings, capped at 70 percent. MLAs contribute 11 percent of earnings to the fund.

A legislator with six years of service receives a pension equal to 21 percent of their top three-year average earnings. A cabinet minister earning roughly $183,000 would receive slightly more than $38,000 annually.

NDP caucus communications director Edward May said pensions were not a consideration in setting the election date. Eby cited U.S. tariff threats to jobs and cost of living, plus the need for MLAs to vote from hospital beds, as reasons for the timing.