OTTAWA—Political pundits are beginning to wonder if British Columbia Premier David Eby’s decision to call an election, to be held on Oct. 24, will rank among the greatest blunders in Canadian political history. That will depend, of course, on what British Columbians decide today. 

But Canadian history provides plenty of competition. Leaders have squandered power by calling unnecessary elections, self-destructed in debates, and handed opponents opportunities they could never have created themselves. Here are three of the biggest strategic or tactical bungles in Canadian political history.

The B.C. Liberals implode

Phase 2 of Canada’s LNG journey launches, expanding opportunities in Canada and beyond

Canada’s productivity gap is buried in paperwork

When Kevin Falcon became leader of the B.C. Liberals in 2022, the party had governed the province for 16 of the previous 21 years, but trailed the NDP badly in the polls. Falcon concluded that the Liberal name had become a liability, in part because of the unpopularity of Justin Trudeau’s federal Liberals. 

In April 2023, the party became BC United. The BC Liberals had established themselves as an anti-NDP coalition of federal Liberals and Conservatives. Falcon abandoned a brand that still commanded roughly........

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