B.C. Conservatives win majority government as Doerkson to become premier

VANCOUVER · Lorne Doerkson will be British Columbia's next premier, leading a Conservative majority government after a landslide victory in Saturday's provincial election. The Conservatives were leading or elected in 64 of the province's 93 ridings as of late Saturday night, according to CBC News projections. The win ends nine years of NDP rule and marks the first time since 1928 that a party running under the Conservative banner has formed a majority in B.C. Outgoing Premier David Eby conceded defeat and announced his resignation as leader of the NDP, saying the loss broke his heart. "We voted for a better British Columbia, and from here I will do everything in my power to get British Columbia back on track," Doerkson told jubilant supporters in Vancouver. He sketched out a vision for big changes, including a tax cut and freeze, a doubling of natural gas production by 2032 and speeding up permitting and mining exploration. "We will cut red tape like it's never been cut before," Doerkson said.

Eby, whose decision to call a snap election two years early backfired, said he had called Doerkson to concede and wish him the best. "This is an important time, this is a critical time for our province and our country, and I hope for all British Columbians that he protects British Columbians and looks after us and looks after the province," Eby said. In a sombre concession speech, he reflected on his government's accomplishments but accepted full responsibility for the outcome. The Conservative breakthrough came largely in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, where the party was on track to flip up to 13 seats from the NDP. It appeared set to sweep all of Surrey, with other notable pickups in Vancouver-Langara, Richmond Steveston, Port Moody-Burquitlam and two seats in Coquitlam. The NDP was projected to win 27 seats, while the Green Party was projected to win two.

The result marks a remarkable turnaround for the B.C. Conservatives, who appeared to be in disarray just five weeks ago when former leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned amid a caucus revolt. Eby's snap election call, however, catalyzed the Conservatives, and a number of MLAs who had quit the caucus quickly returned after Doerkson was appointed interim leader. The party had been reduced to just 24 MLAs at the height of its internal conflict earlier this year. In his victory speech, an animated Doerkson promised to focus on rebuilding the economy, reinforcing public safety and protecting private property rights. "For a very long time, a lot of British Columbians have felt like Victoria forgot about them, like the map maybe stopped at Hope, but tonight the whole map counts," he said. He also addressed Indigenous people directly, saying, "To our First Nations: This future is one we will build together as partners with the certainty all of us need."

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Some key priorities in the Conservative platform include repealing B.C.'s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, ending the SOGI 123 learning resource in schools, and cracking down on public drug use while prioritizing treatment and recovery. The party has also promised major infrastructure projects, including building a 10-lane bridge to replace the George Massey Tunnel, extending the SkyTrain to Newton and building a new women and children's hospital in Surrey. Nosy Mag reported in October that the party pledged to scrap the NDP's tunnel project and build a bridge instead. Green Party Leader Emily Lowan, who was elected in Saanich North and the Islands, said her small caucus had inherited an enormous responsibility. "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 said in her victory speech. Jeremy Valeriote was re-elected for the Greens in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky.

Eby had said he called the election early because he wanted a stronger mandate to fix a legislature that "wasn't working" and to deal with economic uncertainty from U.S. trade policies. His campaign was dogged by criticism over the election timing and a series of political gaffes, including an admission that his children were enrolled in the province's coveted $10-per-day daycare program. Voter turnout appeared to be on track for a record low, with preliminary results from Elections B.C. hovering around 45.5 per cent. NDP MLA and cabinet minister Adrian Dix, re-elected in Vancouver-Kingsway, called the result one of the most disappointing nights in the modern history of the BC NDP. "Clearly, given the results, it was a mistake to call the election," he told reporters. His colleague Bowinn Ma, re-elected in North Vancouver-Lonsdale, said she understood Eby's decision. "The election results tonight are quite different than they were just two years ago, which I would say demonstrates it was a question worth asking British Columbians," Ma said.

With files from CBC News, National Post and The Globe and Mail