> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.onthetrail.info/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Big BC election primer. Also a French revolution. - URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/the-big-bc-election-special-also-a-french-revolution/ - Published: 2026-10-10T12:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-10T11:59:59.000Z - Description: But come on, two countries being shut down from student protests isn't thaaat big a deal, right? - Author: Isaac Peltz - Tags: The Loop What the hell is going on out west!? This is a sentence that most of us who pay attention to the news think to themselves a couple times a day. There is an election going on in British Columbia. For everyone outside of the province, it makes no sense. > This week’s **The Loop** is devoted to showing you the timeline of how BC got to where it is. > Prior to the last election, BC Liberals rebrand as BC United– a centrist/right of center coalition. > Tumult within the party! BC United collapses completely because of the polls, leaving nothing in their wake. > BC Conservatives come from their ashes, piggy backing off the popularity of the brand nationwide. This new coalition was a right of centre/far right-wing coalition. This was also the peak of Poillievre’s popularity. > The conservatives and NDP are neck and neck the entire election, although eventually the cons lose to the BC NDP. The NDP wins a one-seat majority. > John Rustad, the leader of the conservatives, is being told he needs to step down. He refuses > The caucus revolts, and declares him “professionally incapacitated”. Rustad still refuses to leave the leadership role, and 5 MLAs support him, refusing to acknowledge any interim leader. > Behind-the-scenes talks occur, and soon Rustad steps down anyways. > The party has a leadership race. The field of candidates is heavily split, with three front runners. Caroline Elliot, a right of centre “moderate,” Peter Milobar, right-wing, and Kerry-Lynne Findlay, a far-right conspiracist. > Kerry Lynne Findlay wins on the fourth round of voting, narrowly beating Caroline Elliot. > Pierre Poilievre, also a far-right leader, says it’s a victory against “Liberal Lobbyists.” This probably had nothing to do with Elliot, but instead has to do with an ongoing beef between Poilievre and right-wing strategist Kory Teneycke, who ran Ms. Elliot’s campaign. He is to the cons what Gerald Butts is to the Liberals. Essentially all their biggest victories are from these two people’s minds. I wanted to write a profile about Teneycke, so I texted him. He didn’t respond. I think I’m too small-time. > From May to September, the Conservative party was in free fall in the polls, and collapsing internally. 11 MLA quit the party, and another 3 were expelled. [Including former leader John Rustad– **twice.**](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-conservatives-lose-3-more-mlas-9.7349990?ref=onthetrail.info) The caucus calls for her to step down. > David Eby prepares to call a snap election > Findlay finally quits after months of pressure to step down. She does it just in time > Eby *still calls the election* despite his big advantage, Kerry-Lynn Findlay, no longer being part of the picture > The Conservative caucus elect Lorne Doerkson as interim leader. He will remain leader without input from the party members. > The polls are showing conservatives in the lead with Doerkson. He is on track to win a \~one seat majority. Maybe. Anyone could win, honestly. It’s a nail biter. What’s amazing is that Eby called this election, thinking that the conservatives would remain disorganized. But the caucus chose Doerkson, the perfect individual to lead the party. He’s competent, a little dull, and very smart. He’s openly pro-LGBTQ, pro-choice, and doesn’t seem much interested in identity debates like Findlay. This does not disclude that they might be exceptionally disorganized if they win the election, it just means that their leader is pitch perfect to run an election out west. The biggest problem for the conservatives in general is one that we see on the national stage as well. The caucus does not like the conservative voting membership. For example: who likes Poilievre? The country doesn’t, his caucus doesn’t. Poilievre has lost 8 members of his team in a year. But Poilievre did exceptionally well in his leadership review! In BC the same thing happened. The caucus hated Findlay, but the members elected her. What does this show us? Right now, far right wing activists have taken over the membership of the conservatives country-wide. They like people such as Duhaime in Quebec, [a far-right](https://montrealgazette.com/news/how-far-right-is-conservative-leader-eric-duhaime-his-past-offers-clues/?ref=onthetrail.info) [anti-vax ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/eric-duhaime-vaccination-polls-conservative-1.6355898?ref=onthetrail.info)conspiracy theorist. They like Poilievre, [a far-right ](https://thewalrus.ca/poilievre-conspiracy-theories/?ref=onthetrail.info)conspiracy theorist. They like Danielle Smith, [a far-right](https://pressprogress.ca/the-pentagon-and-norad-respond-to-danielle-smith-nope-were-not-spraying-chemicals-over-alberta/?ref=onthetrail.info), [racist](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/06/22/news/danielle-smith-staffer-anti-indigenous-posts?ref=onthetrail.info) conspiracy theorist. I think you get it. The Conservatives are in a huge bind. As we see with the BC conservatives, they no longer want to have their members elect their leaders because their members elect people who appeal to a select minority of people. So what should the party do? To be honest, [there are not many options.](https://nationalpost.com/opinion/michael-taube-conservative-infighting-risks-splitting-the-party?ref=onthetrail.info) Meanwhile the BC NDP is in big trouble. They called a snap election with the hopes that Findlay would be their opponent. Instead of changing their mind upon her exit, they kept going forward. Now they might lose. But they’re not stupid. [Suddenly, they’re swinging left](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-millionaires-tax-eby-promise-9.7368961?ref=onthetrail.info) because they need to take votes from the Greens to win. They can’t win on their right, they’ve finally realized, so they need to consolidate their left flank. Will it work? **This newsletter happens because people like you support us. We have tiers as cheap as $3 a month– and you get so much for it. Full access to our database, full access to every article, and you're support journalists & educators across Canada who use our work as a resource. Think about signing up!** [Keep Power Accountable](#/portal/signup) ### **REVOLUTION IN FRANCE** On September 18, high school students in France decided to take a stand against decades of austerity. Their classes have 30+ students in them, with not enough teachers, their high schools are collapsing on their heads, and the material conditions are miserable. The state has offered no support. The whole country is falling apart over this. This is so severe, that if it continues, it could lead to a change in government. This is a crisis. Watching the national assembly is unbelievable. It’s emotional. The right wing government currently in power has made light of the situation. They blame the left wing of the National Assembly, which is obviously insane. For those of you who don’t know about Quebec’s history, one of our greatest moments was in 2012 in a student general strike called “Le Printemps érable” (The Maple Spring). More than 300,000 students started a general strike to fight back against enormous hikes to university costs. It was the single longest and largest student strike movement in north american history. It literally caused the end of the Jean Charest government. The students were violently assaulted by the police, a technique known as “kettling.” One student lost their eye. Many more were severely injured. Thousands were arrested. In France, it is high schoolers fighting against the state. Children between the ages of 14-18\. [One of these kids had his hand blown off. ](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9zrdmxp4vy6o?ref=onthetrail.info)The useless, pathetic mainstream media has refused to call this what it is: state violence against children. Where am I seeing this ? [On Instagram.](https://www.instagram.com/p/DePtzxsM9o-/?ref=onthetrail.info) [Here’s more](https://www.instagram.com/p/DePcxfVMTNJ/?ref=onthetrail.info). [Here’s more](https://www.instagram.com/p/DeMNefEMfnq/?ref=onthetrail.info). [Here’s more](https://www.instagram.com/p/DeL33MAsazT/?ref=onthetrail.info). Do you know who else is seeing these videos? High school students in Quebec. The mainstream media is covering it in some news shows on TV, but there isn’t much written about it in Canada. But the kids are watching it. I don’t know what will happen. I don’t know if students here will follow suit. But in Belgium they did. Just saying, maybe students should consider it. I’d be worried if I were a leader here. Like the newly elected PQ. **Share this free article with people! That's how we grow! Anyone can sign up and customize which newsletters they receive if they want to stay free tier forever!** [Share](#/share) ### **CORNELL 7 RAPE CASE** You’ve probably already heard about this. I just didn’t want it to go into the “other top news” section.[ Essentially, a second me-too movement is occurring in the anglosphere.](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/oct/03/cornell-gang-rape-me-too?ref=onthetrail.info) I don’t have a lot to say about it that isn’t said already. But I do think this is an extremely important moment. There have been 15 femicides in Quebec this year. [Here are all of them.](https://www.narcity.com/fr/feminicides-survenus-au-quebec-2026?ref=onthetrail.info) [In 2025, 147 women were murdered violently in Canada.](https://femicideincanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025Infographic-ENG-1-1.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) This isn’t a one off situation of 7 bad actors at Cornell. [This is a global epidemic.](https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/briefs/Femicide%5FBrief%5F2025.pdf?ref=onthetrail.info) Reach out to your friends. Check in on the women in your life, folks. And stand with them. ### **PARTI QUÉBÉCOIS WINS PROVINCIAL ELECTION** With the smallest support of any party who’s taken power *in the history of Canada.* I want to thank English Canadian newspapers for their hysteria this week. They have no idea what they’re talking about, but I’ve been enjoying watching them. It’s so clear that they don’t have French speaking writers. This morning I saw a headline that said “PQ win in Quebec sparks Canada unity debate”. What? The only ones having that debate are English Canadians. Are English Canadians even having that debate? It might just be the newspapers. I don’t even think the **Federal** government is concerned about this. The last three polls that came out had, in chronological order, [27%,](https://338canada.com/quebec/20260912-mai-ind.htm?ref=onthetrail.info) [26%](https://338canada.com/quebec/20260913-seg-ind.htm?ref=onthetrail.info), and finally the latest had[ 25% support for sovereignty.](https://338canada.com/quebec/20260926-syn-ind.htm?ref=onthetrail.info) We haven’t seen even 40 percent support since 2018\. Quebecers are feeling fine, generally, about federalism right now. Our federal leader is more than twice as popular than our new provincial leader. Beyond that, it’s unlikely that this government is even in power long enough for them to *hold* the referendum. The average time for a minority government is 18-24 months. The PQ promised a referendum after Donald Trump leaves office. In 2.5 years. There will likely be another election before then. And if the next election is held on the basis of “should we hold a referendum”, the Liberals will suddenly be back in power. I think most Quebecers are happy with this election result. The PQ didn’t get a majority– because voters didn’t want that. But, they wanted change, no matter what. The National Assembly is extremely varied now, and the PQ will have to work in constant collaboration to win support for anything. My money is on another election next fall at the latest. [Read my full chicken scratch notes here.](https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/chicken-scratch-analysis-from-the-quebec-election/) [Read my calculations on proportional representation here.](https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/what-would-quebec-look-like-under-proportional-representation/) **Give someone a free subscription!** [Gift](#/portal/gift) ### **TOP ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS** [**West Coast**](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/10/01/news/west-coast-oil-pipeline-gets-national-interest-status-start-construction-next?ref=onthetrail.info)oil pipeline gets national interest status. [**Oil Prices have peaked** ](https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/the-energy-security-fall-out-from-fossil-fuel-fragility-to-electric-independence/?ref=onthetrail.info)early, thus rendering the idea of a pipeline for future prosperity… questionable. [**Ottawa announces habitat offsets**](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/10/01/news/feds-c39-habitat-loss-offsets-questioned?ref=onthetrail.info)**.** They don’t work. [**Hydro Quebec**](https://lp.ca/qPTmy1?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info)starting consultation on the price of electricity for data centres. [**Illegal dumping threatening Rive Nord**](https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2026/12/25/des-centaines-de-depots-illegaux-de-dechets-menacent-les-residents-de-la-rive-nord-de-montreal?ref=onthetrail.info) residents. [**Canadians will never**](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/10/05/news/trans-mountain-toll-regulator-ruling?ref=onthetrail.info) get their money back for the Trans Mountain pipeline. [**Half of electricity**](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2289961/moitie-demandes-electricite-centres-donnees-quebec?ref=onthetrail.info) demand in Quebec is data centres. [**EU Ambassador pushes**](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/10/07/news/eu-ambassador-cleantech-energy-transition?ref=onthetrail.info) for closer ties between it and Canada for clean tech transition. ### **TOP NEWS** [**30 year old**](https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/i-shot-them-harrowing-details-of-tumbler-ridge-shooting-revealed-as-us-suspect-charged/?ref=onthetrail.info)from Washington State helped with Tumbler Ridge shooting. [**3 killed in Gaza**](https://lp.ca/gZNWDH?sharing=true&ref=onthetrail.info) by Israeli strikes on October 7th. [**Loophole to be closed**](https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2291328/commissaire-lobbyisme-quebec-bar-ouvert?partageApp=rcca%5Fappmobile%5Fappinfo%5Fandroid&ref=onthetrail.info) in Quebec lobbying, commissioner says. Quebec remains the most advanced province with lobbying and conflict of interest laws. [**Signal to leave Canada**](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-messaging-service-signal-says-ministers-changes-to-lawful-access-bill/?ref=onthetrail.info) as federal Liberals advance bill to bypass Canadians’ rights. [**Ai tries to hack a Canadian**](https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/article/ai-agents-tried-to-hack-a-canadian-government-website-research-firm-says/?ref=onthetrail.info)government website. [**Montreal bylaw banning**](https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/lawsuit-claims-city-of-montreal-bylaw-banning-insults-against-police-officers-is-unconstitutional/?ref=onthetrail.info)insults to police officers is probably constitutional. City will have to defend it in court. [**UK looking to return**](https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/uk-pm-burnham-reopens-divisive-debate-on-rejoining-eu/?ref=onthetrail.info) to EU. [**Alberta UCP referendum**](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/cbc-calgary-alberta-poll-separation-ndp-9.7367276?ref=onthetrail.info)is backfiring. We’ll be talking about this one in a couple weeks when the referendum happens. [**Bolsonaro, the son of the previous Bolsonaro**](https://apnews.com/article/brazil-elections-lula-flavio-bolsonaro-laydown-c194f8965632c8af9bcc4e7a3716cd7c?utm%5Fsource=app&utm%5Fmedium=android%5Fshare&utm%5Fcampaign=whatsapp) (a far right ally of Donald Trump) wins the first round of presidential elections in Brazil. Off to the second round! [**Build Canada Homes**](https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/build-canada-homes-crown-corporation-affordable-housing-9.7367751?ref=onthetrail.info) is moving too slow. [**Sanchez calls snap election** ](https://www.ledevoir.com/monde/europe/1014398/pleine-crise-logement-sanchez-convoque-elections-anticipees-espagne?ref=onthetrail.info)in Spain, citing the housing crisis as the reason. See, David Eby, this is how you call a snap election! [The country is extremely unstable after an 87 year old was evicted and died.](https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2026/10/341338/spains-housing-protests-grow-after-maricarmens-death/?ref=onthetrail.info) Protests have popped up everywhere. Spain has one of the worst crises in the world. [**Incumbent mayoral candidate**](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/10/05/news/chow-promises-universal-school-lunch-bradford-questions-how-pay?ref=onthetrail.info), Olivia Chow, promises universal school lunches. [**Person shot**](https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/person-shot-during-encounter-with-ice-agents-in-new-york-city-source-says/?ref=onthetrail.info) by ICE in New York City. Their child, 5 years old, was in the car. [**68,000 jobs lost**](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-canadian-jobs-report-september-2026/?ref=onthetrail.info) in Canada in September.