You don’t need a poll to tell you B.C.’s election is going to be a close, hard-fought, brutal affair. But there was one for you to read anyway on Tuesday, in the form of a new Research Co. survey showing a statistical tie between the BC Conservatives and NDP just days before the Sept. 21 start of the campaign.

We won’t dwell too much on the minutiae, other than to say it’s the second poll to outline this broad scenario: Two parties in an overall dead heat, with one (the NDP) leading in urban Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, while the other (the Conservatives) dominating the rest of the rural province. A government struggling under the weight of public fatigue after several years in power. An opposition leader still unknown to the public, with baggage to overcome, but a huge potential upside as well.

Welcome back to 2017, everybody. Get ready for a rough ride.

It’s becoming clear the 2024 election will likely hang on the results of a handful of seats in Metro Vancouver suburban ridings, just like in 2017, with a dash of action on Vancouver Island to keep things interesting.

The........

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