BURST
B.C. NDP Leader David Eby resigned as leader of the party on Saturday night, less than two hours after votes started rolling in.
Eby addressed a subdued party headquarters in downtown Vancouver, confirming he had retained his seat in Vancouver Point Grey and had congratulated Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson.
Eby apologized to NDP MLAs who had not been re-elected and listed some of his government’s successes.
“Some of the hardest working MLAs I know for their communities were not elected tonight,” he said. “It breaks my heart and I accept full responsibility for that outcome.”
Eby highlighted some of the projects that had been built or were started under the NDP government — including the new St. Paul’s hospital, the Senakw rental housing development, and the Broadway Subway line — and said it had been “the honour of my life” to serve as premier of British Columbia.
Eby then confirmed he would resign and was looking forward to spending more time with his family.
Speaking to his wife, Eby said “I love you Cails, let’s go home.”
The B.C. NDP appear to have lost 18 seats, leaving them with 29, compared to the Conservatives with 62. The Greens appear to have won two seats.
More to come …
With file from Stephanie Ip