Tariff trouble, policy pivots, opposition parties in turmoil, and the longest public sector strike in BC history. The fall 2025 BC legislative session was a turbulent one. Through it all, the David Eby government pushed forward with an ambitious agenda they framed as focused on securing BC’s economic future and accelerating major projects while advancing climate action, affordability, and long-term competitiveness.
Policy and Legislative Agenda
The fall legislative session was only the second for many MLAs after a record number of new first timers got elected in fall 2024. Despite its narrow majority in last October’s election, the Eby government passed 19 bills including initiatives to fast-track major energy projects, build more housing, expand access to before-and-after school childcare for families, and strengthen consumer protections. New job-protected leave for workers with serious illness or injury, enhanced protections for people affected by intimate image abuse, and the legal authority to sue vape makers for health-related costs also featured prominently on government’s agenda.
The BC NDP maintained the Cooperation and Responsible Government Accord (CARGA) with the BC Green Party, moving into negotiations for the second year of policy agreement. The BC Green Party elected their new leader, Emily Lowan, in September.
The government survived two confidence votes through the fall session, holding off an election. The first was thanks to a tie-breaker vote by Speaker Raj Chouhan on the Energy Statutes Amendment Act, which will enable fast-tracking of the North Coast Transmission Power Line from Prince George to Terrace. And, in the final days of session, government declared its amendments to the Mental Health Act, which would give health care workers legal protection when providing involuntary care to patients, a matter of confidence.
The fall session also saw the Eby government refresh key economic and environmental policy planks including Look West, a 10-year industrial strategy to speed up major projects, diversify BC’s economy and build a skilled workforce. Having announced 18 BC priority projects in February to secure major project investment in the context of the response to the Trump administration, much of the focus of the government agenda related to delivery on these projects and securing federal support. A significant investment in skilled trades was launched in mid-November.
After eight weeks of job action, the government successfully reached an agreement with BCGEU public service workers, settling the longest strike in BC history and setting the tone for upcoming negotiations with other public sector unions.
The BC NDP Convention in mid-November delivered a positive result to the required leadership review question for Premier Eby.
Reviews and Restructuring
The province started an expenditure management and efficiency review process in spring as part of the work to address the deficit.
The first process undertaken was a health authority review, which was an election commitment from Premier Eby. This week the next steps in that process were announced, starting with consolidating administrative and corporate services by spring 2026.
Announced in February, a public service hiring freeze has been in place throughout the year, impacting capacity within ministries and branches.
An independent review of CleanBC, which was accelerated in the CARGA with the BC Greens, found that government’s overall climate action plan is working but identified several areas where renewal is needed, including accelerating clean energy production and offering British Columbians more affordable ways to fight climate pollution. Similar findings were confirmed with the release of the annual Climate Change Accountability Report.
A sustainability review of BC’s post-secondary sector was announced in late November with a final report and recommendations expected in March 2026.
The legislature’s Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform also released their report this week.
Federal-Provincial Relations
The Eby government’s legislative and policy priorities reflect the significant and ongoing threat presented by US tariffs. The federal government’s planned multi-billion-dollar investment in public projects and economic diversification, set out in the fall federal budget, represents tremendous opportunity for British Columbia.
BC is aggressively pursuing economic growth and diversification opportunities that depend on federal partnership. The province was successful in advancing their list of priorities released in February, including having several BC projects receive national-interest designations from Canada’s Major Projects Office (MPO). But the MOU signed last week between Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney could cast a long shadow on Canada-BC relations in the weeks and months to come. As another tranche of economic policy to offset US tariffs, the province continues advancing its list of 18 major projects identified for expedited approvals and development.
The North Coast Transmission Line project is expected to get a boost this fall session with new legislation, pledged by Premier Eby in his annual UBCM address. Eby noted that the transmission line—which will run between Prince George and Terrace—is critical to support future energy demands and unlock economic development in northern BC.
Two projects on the province’s fast-track list—the Red Chris Mine expansion and Kitimat LNG—were recently designated as projects of national interest by the MPO, signaling federal-provincial alignment on advancing critical infrastructure this fall.
BC Conservative Leadership Turmoil
Throughout the fall session, John Rustad has faced growing pressure to resign as leader of the BC Conservatives. Five MLAs have either voluntarily left or been ejected from caucus since the 2024 election. The most recent, MLA Amelia Boultbee, quit caucus in October accusing Rustad of intimidation and blocking a caucus vote on his leadership. Boultbee continues to sit as an independent, collaborating with Elenore Sturko who Rustad removed from his caucus following his leadership review in September. Former BC Conservative MLA Jordan Kealy also sits as an independent.
Calls for Rustad’s resignation reached a crescendo on December 3, which became the final day of session, when it was revealed that 20 MLAs – more than half the Opposition caucus – had submitted letters of non-confidence. The BC Conservative Party board subsequently voted to remove Rustad as leader, citing “professional incapacitation.
After initially refusing to submit to the mounting pressure to resign, Rustad announced on Thursday, December 4 that he would resign as Leader of the BC Conservative Party and as Leader of the Official Opposition. In an emotional statement, he reflected on the party’s rapid rise under his leadership, from having no MLAs three years ago to coming within one seat of forming government in October 2024. He urged supporters to “set aside differences for the good of the party” to avoid what he described as a damaging internal “civil war.”
Surrey White Rock MLA Trevor Halford has been selected by caucus as interim leader while the party conducts a leadership process.
First Session for a new Fourth Party
The fall session was the first for the Legislature’s fourth party, OneBC.
Formed by two former BC Conservative MLAs, the caucus brought a heightened level of polarization to the Legislature and tested the rules of decorum in the House. Multiple attempts to introduce private members’ bills failed, including a bill to repeal the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a bill to outlaw land acknowledgements by public servants and publicly funded institutions, and a bill to restrict gender transitions for minors.
Grassroots organizing has begun for potential recall campaigns against OneBC MLAs. Under BC law, recall campaigns can be initiated 18 months after the last provincial election. The new caucus was critiqued this week for using caucus funds to produce a video based on residential school denialism that was screened in Victoria.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Despite winning only a narrow majority in the last election, the Eby government advanced a significant legislative and policy agenda focused on economic growth and resilience. The question heading into 2026 is whether this approach will enable the government to grow public support for its agenda or simply hold the line in a tumultuous and fast-changing political landscape.
The legislative session will resume in February for the speech from the throne and budget.
Now is the time to start preparing for the spring legislative session. Hilltop’s team of experienced government relations and public affairs professionals can offer strategies, tools, and perspectives that will help position you for success in 2026.
Reach out today.