BURST
The B.C. Conservative party, which just a month ago was wracked with infighting and looked on the verge of collapse, has won a super-majority government, toppling a nine-year NDP regime that called a snap election in an effort to take advantage of their opponent’s chaos.
Conservative interim leader Lorne Doerkson, who accepted the party reins while in Amsterdam airport on his way back from a holiday in South Africa, will now lead the first government formed by his party in almost 100 years.
As of Saturday night at 11 p.m., the Conservatives had won 55 ridings and were in the lead in 9 more, decimating the NDP in Surrey, Delta, and Richmond, as well as in historic centre-right strongholds in the north and Interior of the province.
The result was hard to imagine back in mid-September when then-leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned after overseeing the dismantling of party and caucus staff.
Leaked audio that depicted her handpicked chief of staff making racist comments and her operations director appearing to plan the theft of party coffers led to the departure or expulsion of 13 MLAs from caucus who were upset with the direction Findlay was taking.
It was also revealed the party had hired a private investigator to look into who was leaking the scandalous comments to an anonymous social media account called the FindlayFiles.
Doerkson took over the party on October 20, two days before NDP Leader David Eby called a snap election and in 48 hours was able to bring back most of the MLAs who left under Findlay and launch headlong into an election campaign.
“B.C. is definitely Blueeeeeeee,” an excited Doerkson shouted to a crowd of roughly 500 people at the Rocky Mountaineer Station in Vancouver.
“I have watched a lot of people get thrown at a rodeo, and I’ll say I’ve been thrown a few times myself. But what I have learned from that is that you pick up yourself, dust yourself off, and you get back on, and the crowd gets to its feet for you because you’re trying.”
He promised to “bring investment back to British Columbia” and said that he is “going to get to work unlocking the endless possibilities of our province and our people. In every corner of it, I am ready to deliver for all British Columbians.”
Much of the party’s existing caucus has been re-elected and will be joined by high-profile candidates such as West Vancouver-Capilano’s Caroline Elliott, who finished second in the party’s May leadership race, and Jaime Stein in Vancouver-Langara, making forming a cabinet a tough task for the new premier.
The Conservatives will have to change their constitution to allow Doerkson to remain leader permanently, with a two-thirds majority vote from party members required to make the change.
Party president Mauro Francis said he isn’t worried and that the party board will do whatever is necessary to keep Doerkson as premier.
“I was amazed and just so happy to see how quick everyone came together after a leadership race that had occurred four or five months ago, and so it was at breakneck speed. This all happened, and we would not have won tonight if it didn’t happen,” said Francis of the process that led to the Conservative victory.
Elliott told Postmedia she hasn’t begun thinking of a possible cabinet portfolio yet, saying her two priorities right now are to represent the people of West Vancouver-Capilano and support Doerkson in any way he sees fit.
She praised the premier designate as a unifier and someone who even his opponents acknowledged is a “nice guy.”
“He’s someone who no one has a bad word to say about it, that’s so rare in politics,” said Elliott.
Carson Binda, newly elected Conservative MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena, said he had to delay wedding plans to run in the snap provincial election.
He said that the big day is now planned for August, with a honeymoon in Italy to follow. His fiancée said the whole experience has been overwhelming but that she is proud of Binda.
“I am absolutely ready to hit the ground running to deliver the results that British Columbians voted for tonight. We have a plan to supercharge our economy. We have a plan to cut taxes, bring back safe streets, and invest in those front-line services,” said Binda.
A subdued Eby told supporters he had spoken with Doerkson and “acknowledged his success in electing a majority government tonight.”
“I wished him the best,” he said.
“The people of British Columbia have asked us to be the official Opposition, which is obviously not the result any of us wanted. A number of my colleagues … were not elected tonight. It breaks my heart and I accept full responsibility for that outcome. “
After highlighting some of the projects that had been built or were started under the NDP government — including the new St. Paul’s Hospital, the Sen̓áḵw rental housing development, and the Broadway subway line — Eby said it had been “the honour of my life” to serve as premier.
He said it was with a “heavy heart” that he would be offering his resignation as leader of the B.C. NDP.
“It is time for new leadership within our party.”
The NDP will have to go about the difficult task of rebuilding under a new leader after falling from 47 seats to potentially less than 30, with cabinet ministers Anne Kang of Burnaby Centre, Jessie Sunner of Surrey-Newton, Jodie Wickens of Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, and Jagrup Brar of Surrey-Fleetwood going down to defeat.
The Greens, meanwhile, stood pat, with party leader Emily Lowan getting herself elected in Saanich North and the Islands, previously held by Rob Botterell of the Greens, and Jeremy Valeriote returning for a second term in Saanich North and the Islands.
Lowan struck a dark tone during her speech.
“I’m gonna be honest. I’m scared for what’s to come,” she told supporters.
Lowan said she feared the Conservative agenda would lead to cuts to programs “we rely on most,” including health care and child care.
“The BC Greens and the movement we have built will stand with marginalized people, with workers and with everyone who depends on strong public services,” she said.
Lowan added: “Over the next four years our job is to be a voice for the many people who will be harmed by their policies and that is going to require some serious movement building.”
Lowan, who was elected to represent the riding of Saanich North and the Islands, said she looked forward to working with fellow Green Jeremy Valeriote, who was re-elected in the riding of West Vancouver-Sea to Sky.
“For two years you’ve shown what two Green MLAs can do. You got regional transit back on the table for the Sea to Sky. You stood up for safter roads on Highway 99 and you never stopped fighting for the people of your community. And now we get to do it together.”