AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 10, 2026
Emily Lowan Eyes Legislature as Snap Election Called
Emily Lowan, leader of the B.C. Green Party, has voiced her disappointment over Premier David Eby’s snap election call, yet sees it as an opportunity to win a seat in the B.C. legislature. Since becoming party leader last year, Lowan has not served as an MLA but is now running in Saanich North and the Islands, a Green stronghold since 2017.
Cost of Living and the Climate Crisis: Central Issues
Lowan emphasizes that the pressing crisis for many in the province is the cost of living. She notes that current levels of anxiety about rising costs are on par with those experienced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Lowan, many in her generation are juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet, highlighting a fundamental breakdown in the social contract. The B.C. Green Party, she says, aims to restore this by focusing on affordability while simultaneously addressing the climate crisis.
Integrating Affordability with Environmental Responsibility
Challenging the common perception that economic and environmental goals are at odds, Lowan asserts that the party refuses to choose one over the other. She explains that the Green Party’s approach is to link cost of living solutions with climate action. The party's proposals include a comprehensive green jobs program, emphasizing the creation of union jobs with dignified wages, and new concepts such as public grocery stores to drive down living costs.
Lowan stresses that dealing with economic anxiety must go hand in hand with tackling climate targets, and she views it as the government's responsibility to address both challenges together.
Green Jobs, Youth Initiatives, and Renewable Energy
The B.C. Green Party's plan includes tripling current fossil fuel job numbers with positions in the renewable energy sector. Lowan points to government-backed initiatives like the Youth Climate Corps, which would employ young people in retrofitting homes, installing heat pumps, restoring local ecosystems, and building renewable energy projects such as wind and solar. She also highlights British Columbia's significant geothermal potential, offering opportunities for workers transitioning from industries like LNG.
Expansion of the care economy and the establishment of well-paid green jobs are additional priorities for the party, furthering both economic and environmental objectives.
Addressing Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Infrastructure Projects
Lowan is critical of the B.C. NDP government's support for fracked gas projects, noting significant subsidies and fast-tracking of such initiatives. She references a near $6-billion package granted to LNG Canada by the provincial government and points out that current royalties from these projects exceed initial agreements. Lowan argues that the provincial government could do more to limit subsidies to the fossil fuel sector and should adjust its permitting processes to better align with climate goals.
Looking Toward Election Goals and the Future
For the upcoming election, Lowan identifies the Green Party’s aims as retaining current seats, increasing their share of the vote, and potentially achieving breakthroughs in regions such as the south Island. She emphasizes the importance of building grassroots momentum and communicating the party's vision for both an independent and fair provincial economy. By shifting away from exporting profits through fossil fuel projects, Lowan believes B.C. can shape its own economic future and raise public expectations for effective action on affordability and the climate crisis.
With files from CBC's On The Island.
Source: cbc.ca.
