NDP's Eby defends early provincial election call as B.C. leaders' debate gets underway

B.C.'s provincial party leaders take the debate stage tonight

The leaders of British Columbia's main political parties will take the stage together tonight for the only live, streamed and televised debate of the provincial election campaign.

B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson, B.C. NDP Leader David Eby and B.C. Green Party Leader Emily Lowan will debate a wide range of issues important to British Columbians, with less than two weeks to go until voters head to the polls. 

How to follow the debate on CBC:

• Online: Live streaming at the top of this page and on the CBC British Columbia YouTube channel. 
• On TV: Live on CBC Television (check your TV service provider for channel details). 
• Listen: Live on CBC Radio One (88.1 FM in Vancouver, 90.5 FM in Victoria, 88.9 FM in Kelowna and 91.5 FM in Prince George).

As of late September, health care, the economy, housing prices and affordability were essentially tied as the "most important" election issues, according to a Leger survey of 1,003 British Columbians over a four-day period.

Taxes and Trump — key focuses for the Conservative and NDP campaigns, respectively — were of lesser importance to Leger respondents.

A separate Angus Reid poll of 801 British Columbians identified cost of living as the top election concern last month, far ahead of health care, the economy and affordable housing.

Eby called the election in September, two years early, saying the province needs a fresh government to adequately respond to the trade conflict between Canada and the United States. Both his political opponents and members of the public have criticized the decision to send voters to the polls just a week after municipal elections this Saturday.

Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, will moderate tonight's leaders' debate.