The BC NDP have officially defeated the Conservative Party of BC in the 2024 provincial election to form a majority government under Premier David Eby.
After the final count was conducted, the BC NDP secured 47 seats, the exact number needed to get a majority.
The BC Conservatives have won 44 seats and will act as the official opposition to the BC NDP until the next provincial government.
The BC Green Party won just two seats and although their leader Sonia Furstenau lost, she will remain the figurehead of the party, giving guidance to the two successful Green MLAs.
“Based on today’s final vote count, and pending judicial recounts, British Columbians have asked our BC NDP team to lead our province for a third time. It is an incredible honour and a huge responsibility. We are listening to the message voters sent with this close election, and will be getting to work on today’s tough challenges right away,” said Premier David Eby.
“After a close and hard-fought campaign, it’s now time to come together to deliver for people. Today, I met with Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin. She has asked me to form the next government. We will, and we will work hard every day to earn the trust you have placed in us,” added Eby.
In a media release, Eby outlined his party’s commitment to deliver on key issues, including reducing daily costs like car insurance and childcare, increasing the number of health care workers, improving access to family doctors, and making housing more affordable. Eby emphasized his intent to create an economy that benefits everyone, not just the wealthiest.
He acknowledged British Columbians’ call for collaboration to make life better, highlighting shared priorities within the legislature: addressing affordability, climate change, healthcare accessibility, and creating safe, inclusive communities.
Eby also recognized departing colleagues and welcomed new MLAs, emphasizing their shared focus on delivering results and building a province where all British Columbians can thrive.
One of the most closely watched races was in Juan de Fuca-Malahat, where NDP candidate Dana Lajeunesse went into the weekend with a slim 23-vote lead over Conservative rival Marina Sapozhnikov.
Following a final tally of mail-in ballots and recounts, Lajeunesse widened the gap, clinching the riding by 125 votes and securing a crucial seat for the NDP.
The Surrey-Guildford riding also played a pivotal role. This swing riding remained neck-and-neck until the last ballots were counted, but the final numbers confirmed a BCNDP win, allowing the party to retain its majority.
BC Greens Leader Sonia Furstenau, alongside newly elected MLAs Rob Botterell and Jeremy Valeriote, issued the following statement on the results of the provincial election.
“Pending a judicial recount, it appears as though MLAs from different parties will have to work together for the Legislature to function effectively,” said Furstenau.
“This outcome follows a very negative, polarizing election. It’s clear that British Columbians are demanding better outcomes from their government, and our focus is on ensuring effective services and a higher quality of life for people. Government works best when MLAs collaborate and prioritize their constituents over party interests to deliver those outcomes.”
“John Rustad has promised to allow free votes among his Caucus. I hope that the new Conservative MLAs will take the opportunity to vote in alignment with their constituents’ best interests.”
Rob Botterell and Jeremy Valeriote, who won the Green Party’s only two seats in the recent election, say they’re hitting the ground running.
“We’re excited to start delivering for our constituents and for all British Columbians, no matter where they live in the province,” said Botterell, MLA-elect for Saanich North and the Islands.
“The BC Greens have shown they can deliver real results for British Columbians, regardless of the shape of the Legislature,” added Valeriote, MLA-elect for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky.
Automatic judicial recounts will take place in the Kelowna Centre and Surrey-Guildford electoral districts due to narrow margins. According to the Election Act, recounts are triggered when the margin between the top two candidates is less than 1/500th of total ballots.
In Kelowna Centre, the difference is 38 votes (recount threshold is 49), and in Surrey-Guildford, it’s 27 votes (threshold is 38). Applications for recounts must be submitted to the BC Supreme Court by November 4.
A record 2,107,152 voters participated in the 2024 provincial election, with a preliminary turnout of 58.3%.
BC Conservatives have yet to release a statement by publication.
Voting results for each electoral district by party and candidate are available on the Elections BC website.
With files from Curtis Blandy
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