B.C. voters heading to the polls as snap election called for Oct. 24

After weeks of speculation, B.C.NDPLeader John Horganhas made official the worst-kept secret in the province: British Columbiansareheading to the polls.

Horgan said Monday he had called an election for Oct.24 after meeting with Lt.-Gov.Janet Austin and askingher to dissolve the legislature.

"I've struggled mightily with this decision, and it did not come easily to me," said Horgan, acknowledging the controversy of calling an early election during a pandemic.

But he said that, with COVID-19 expected to be a fact of life for the next year, an election made sense now.

"We can either delay that decision and create uncertainty and instability over the12 months or we can dowhat I believe is alwaysthe right thing and ask British Columbians what they think."

The announcement comes after weeks of speculation that Horgan would call an election just over three years into his mandate,andit comes after six cabinet ministers announced their retirements in the past seven days.

The NDP currently have 41 seats in the legislature, as do the opposition Liberal Party, while the Green Party has two.

WATCH | B.C. premier announces Oct. 24election:

B.C. premier announces Oct. 24 election

4 years ago

Duration 1:59

British Columbia voters will head to the polls on Oct 24. Some are criticizing the premier for moving forward early, but John Horgan says COVID-19 would have been a factor no matter when he called an election.

How did we get here?

Horgan has led a minority governmentsince July 2017after his New Democratic Party and the Greens teamed up to defeat the Liberalsin a confidence vote following a May electionwith no clear decision.

Since that time, he has led the province with the support of the Green Party under a unique and formal agreement and passed legislation setting a fixed election date for October 2021. The agreement also stipulated Horgan "will not request a dissolution of the legislature ... except following the defeat of a motion of confidence."

But, in calling the election, Horgan argued the province found itself in unique circumstances because of the pandemicand that the Green Party had also broken a rule of the agreement by introducing an amendment to a government bill without notification.

"The issues of 2017 are not the issues of 2020," said Horgan.

"What we did in the past is one thing, and what we need to do in the future is quite another matter."

Horgan also repeatedly arguedthat an election would create more certainty for the province if one party had a majority government and the ability to make decisions without consulting other parties.

"Weneed a stable government," he said.

Up in the polls

Horgan will attempt to become the first two-term NDP premier in B.C.historyand heads into the campaign with his partyup in the pollsand with thehighest personal approval ratingof any premier in Canada, according to recent surveys by Angus Reid.

In recent weeks, the B.C. Liberal Partyand the Green Partyhave criticized Horgan for considering an election during a global pandemic.

While British Columbia received plaudits for itsinitial containment of the virus, cases of COVID-19 have surged in recent months, and the effects of students returning to class are still not fully known.

The opposition parties quickly attacked Horgan for calling an election.

"Today, John Horgan chose politics over people," said Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson, who said his party will announceits platform and full list of candidates in the coming weeks.

"The only reason for this general election is to try and secure thejobs of the NDP ... it's not necessary."

Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenausaid she spoke with Horgan on Friday, and told him she and fellow Green MLA Adam Olsen would continue to support the NDPon legislation if an election was not called.

"Whenpeople are worried about their kids being back in school, when people are worried about their jobs, when people are worriedabout their housing, this is not a time where we put the interest of a political party ahead of British Columbians," she said.

A number of longtime MLAs have said they won't be seeking re-election, including NDP cabinet ministers Carole James, Judy Darcy, Shane Simpson, Michelle Mungall, Doug Donaldson, Claire Trevena and Scott Fraser.Liberals Rich Coleman and Linda Reid, and former Green Party leader Andrew Weaver have also said they will not run again.