Conservative Party Wins Supermajority in British Columbia Election
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The British Columbia Conservative Party secured a supermajority government, ending nine years of NDP rule, with interim leader Lorne Doerkson set to become premier.
The British Columbia Conservative Party achieved a supermajority in the provincial election, winning 64 seats as ballots were counted late Saturday. The victory ends a nine-year administration by the New Democratic Party, which called a snap election earlier in the month.
Interim Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson, who assumed the role on October 20, will lead the first government formed by his party in nearly a century. Doerkson took over the party after internal turmoil that saw several MLAs leave the caucus.
"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," Doerkson said at a rally in Vancouver.
He pledged to attract investment to the province and to focus on economic opportunities for residents.
The election results also returned many incumbent Conservative MLAs and added high-profile candidates such as Caroline Elliott in West Vancouver-Capilano and Jaime Stein in Vancouver-Langara. Forming a cabinet may be complex, and the party will need to amend its constitution to allow Doerkson to become permanent leader, requiring a two-thirds member vote.
NDP Leader David Eby, who called the snap election, has stepped down following the defeat.