BC election enters final week with leaders clashing over separatism and soldiers' deaths

British Columbia's provincial election entered its final week Tuesday with the two major leaders trading barbs over separatism and the deaths of Canadian soldiers.

In Vancouver, NDP leader David Eby affirmed his support for a united Canada, citing Alberta's role as the province's biggest trading partner. He then named three Conservative MLAs—Brian Tupper, Heather Moss, and David Williams—as members of the B.C. Prosperity Group, a separatist Facebook community. "Not one, not two, but three Conservative MLAs right now are members of a separatist Facebook group called the B.C. Prosperity Group. Brian Tupper, Heather Moss, and David Williams are enabling and legitimizing a fringe political project in B.C. to try and separate us from Canada," Eby said.

At his own campaign event in Maple Ridge, Conservative interim leader Lorne Doerkson rejected the accusation. "Mr. Eby's attempts to impugn my patriotism and love of this country are absolutely disgusting," Doerkson said, adding that the BC Conservative Party supports a strong and united Canada. He did not confirm whether party members were in the separatist group.

Eby also referenced the deaths of two British Columbians in a grass fire at CFB Wainwright, Alberta, over the weekend. "We're going to stand up as a united country for those brave Canadians and mourn with their families and support those who survived with their healing," Eby said.

Doerkson responded sharply: "It is beyond disgusting and desperate for Eby to evoke the lives of the soldiers lost over the weekend in an effort to save his own political skin. Frankly, what is wrong with this man?" Eby then held an impromptu press conference to defend his comments. "I would never ever use the sacrifice of these young men, the grief of their families for political advantage, to attack another party," he said.

The election takes place October 24.