British Columbia Premier David Eby has called an election less than two years into his mandate and amid chaos within the B.C. Conservative Opposition whose leader quit days ago.

The NDP Leader went to Government House in Victoria on Tuesday to ask Lt.-Gov. Wendy Cocchia to dissolve the legislature, setting off an election campaign with voting day on Oct. 24.

Eby said the threat posed by U.S. President Donald Trump and his trade war represented an “existential moment” for B.C.

The date of final voting is a week after municipal elections are scheduled, and Eby called the vote despite pleas from numerous local government leaders not to overlap the campaigns.

The snap election comes amid frantic efforts on the right side of the political spectrum to consolidate their ranks following the resignation of former Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay on Sunday after less than four tumultuous months in office.

Five MLAs who recently resigned or were expelled by Findlay from the Conservative caucus were welcomed back on Monday, bringing the party’s ranks to 29, but that was set to change again with Findlay’s husband, legislator Brent Chapman, announcing on Tuesday that he is leaving the Conservatives to join OneBC.

That right-leaning party is led by Dallas Brodie, who was expelled from the official Opposition last year by former leader John Rustad, who accused her of mocking former residential school students.

Eby, whose government has a one-seat majority, likened the threat posed by Trump to a wildfire.

“When you smell smoke you don’t sit and wait to see what happens next,” he said outside Government House, calling for a firebreak against both the trade war and “Trump-style politics.”

The NDP caucus said in a statement that the party would roll out details of plans to respond to the trade war over the campaign, “offering a clear choice for British Columbians.”

“Our plan is making a difference, driving down housing costs and creating good new jobs. But the job is far from done, and we need to keep going,” Eby said in the statement.

“At a time when Donald Trump is creating more uncertainty, the last thing we need is to rip up what’s working. British Columbians deserve the chance to choose whether we build on our progress or put B.C. at risk by rolling over for Donald Trump.”

Lorne Doerkson, the interim Conservative leader, was scheduled to address media Tuesday, but abruptly cancelled his appearance as the election call loomed.

Findlay had been set to run in a byelection in Abbotsford-Mission on Saturday but that has now been cancelled because of the general election call.

Just months ago, Eby looked politically vulnerable, after several attempts to amend the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples had failed, even though he had tried to discipline his caucus through the threat of an early election.

His government has also been beset by financial woes.

B.C. Finance Minister Josie Osborne announced last week that the deficit forecast had grown by $450 million to a record-setting $13.8 billion, largely because of a “calculation error” in the budget on natural gas royalties.

But the disarray in Conservative ranks appears to have influenced the election call, with the NDP caucus meeting on Sunday to discuss Findlay’s exit and election plans.

The NDP at dissolution had 47 seats, there were two Greens, two vacant seats and 13 Independents — eight of whom are members of the new CentreBC party, although its status has not yet been recognized by the legislature.

Chapman’s move to OneBC would make him its second legislator, giving it official party status too.

The B.C. Conservatives under Rustad were brought to the brink of power in the 2024 election, winning 44 seats.

But internal rifts over ideology and leadership ensued, its ranks dwindling to 24 before Doerkson moved to invite some legislators back.

Rustad said Monday that representatives from both the Conservatives and CentreBC party were holding high-level unity talks, but their status was unclear as of Tuesday.