Braid: B.C. NDP's cynical, dangerous election plays into Trump's hands

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal NewsNationalPoliticsOpinionColumnists Braid: B.C. NDP's cynical, dangerous election plays into Trump's hands Eby thought he had the Conservatives on the ropes so he called an election that comes at a precarious time in Canada and U.S. diplomacy Author of the article: By Don Braid  •  Calgary Herald Published Sep 23, 2026 Last updated 1 hour ago 3 minute read Join the conversation BC NDP leader and Premier David Eby makes an election speech in Surrey, BC on September 23, 2026. Photo by Jason Payne/PNG Article content British Columbia Premier David Eby’s reckless election call is a danger not just to his province, but to the whole country. Article content In his kickoff speech Tuesday, the NDP leader slammed “Trump” 13 times, with many more repeats as reporters questioned him. Article content Article content Eby is framing his whole campaign around the U.S. president. Article content He doesn’t seem to offer any policy; just attacks on Donald Trump. Article content Article content You don’t have to be a softie on the hostile U.S. president to see the danger of provoking him daily in an election campaign. Article content Noon News Roundup Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content The language will inevitably grow more desperate and extreme as the battle with B.C. Conservatives heats up. Article content The MAGA crew will ramp up their own slurs, painting B.C. and Canada as communist hell. Article content Eby threatens to shatter a national strategy that has so far worked quite well. Article content There’s a general consensus among premiers on how to handle Trump. Article content First, leave the heavy lifting to Prime Minister Mark Carney. Article content President Donald Trump speaks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at a working lunch with leaders of G7 and the Middle East on June 16 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Evelyn Hockstein - Pool/Getty Imagesages Article content The PM has united Canadian opinion behind his nuanced approach: Don’t attack Trump by name but make your feelings very clear by inference. Article content The recent and hilarious “accordion” hands pump was about as close as Carney…