British Columbia’s snap election campaign is quickly becoming a debate over why voters are returning to the polls and which party is better prepared to respond to economic pressure from the United States.

NDP Leader David Eby says some members of the Conservative Opposition have embraced ideas associated with U.S. President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement. He has accused interim Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson of failing to distance the party from those views.

Eby pointed to previous actions by some Conservative MLAs, including meetings with the U.S. ambassador to Canada, while arguing the NDP is better positioned to protect the province from American economic pressure.

Doerkson has rejected the criticism and repeatedly described Trump as a bully since the election was called.

However, he says the NDP should be judged on its record after nine years in government rather than its campaign rhetoric.

The interim Conservative leader argues the government had years to strengthen B.C.’s economy and make the province less vulnerable to threats from south of the border.

The two parties are also trading accusations over Eby’s decision to call the October 24 election approximately two years ahead of schedule.

Former Conservative leader John Rustad, who has announced he will not seek re-election after more than two decades in provincial politics, claims Eby called the early vote in an effort to save his own job.

Rustad says the decision has instead helped reunite the Conservative Party following months of leadership changes, caucus departures and internal turmoil.

Eby maintains that an early election is needed to provide stability as B.C. responds to economic threats from the United States. He is campaigning on measures that include new requirements intended to increase the use of B.C. and Canadian products in publicly funded infrastructure projects.

British Columbians will cast their provincial ballots on Saturday, October 24, one week after local government elections are held across the province.