Jennifer Whiteside appointed interim leader of BC NDP after election loss
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The British Columbia NDP selected MLA Jennifer Whiteside as interim party leader following its defeat in the snap provincial election, with a permanent leadership race slated for 2027.
The British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP) named MLA Jennifer Whiteside as its interim leader less than a week after the snap provincial election resulted in a decisive Conservative majority. Whiteside, who was re-elected in New Westminster-Coquitlam, will temporarily replace outgoing Premier David Eby, who resigned as party leader on election night.
The caucus reportedly reached a unanimous recommendation for Whiteside’s appointment. She previously served as Minister of Education under John Horgan, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions under Eby, and has been Minister of Labour since November 2024.
"I’m pleased and humbled to have the support of our party and of my colleagues to serve as interim leader. Our incredible team of MLAs is ready to get to work every day on behalf of British Columbians," Whiteside said in a statement.
"British Columbians sent us an important message, and we need to take the time to listen and learn from that. People have asked that we sit as the Official Opposition and we will take on that work with determination and thoughtfulness."
Mike Farnworth, re-elected MLA for Port Coquitlam and former Minister of Transportation and Transit, will serve as the party’s House Leader, while Niki Sharma, re-elected MLA for Vancouver-Hastings and former attorney general and deputy premier, will become caucus leader. The BC NDP plans to hold a leadership contest in 2027 to choose a permanent leader.
Preliminary results show the Conservative Party of British Columbia holding 63 seats, the BC NDP 28 seats and the Green Party two seats, a reversal from the NDP’s prior slim majority of 47 seats. Final results are pending a complete count by Elections BC.
Conservative premier-elect Lorne Doerkson, who assumed the role after interim leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s resignation, indicated that his party intends to amend its constitution to allow him to remain leader beyond the interim period. He described the transition from interim to permanent leader as an “administrative detail” and said further information would be provided soon. Doerkson suggested the first legislative session of his government could begin in spring 2027, though a shorter session in fall 2026 was not ruled out.