Explainer: BC NDP wins provincial election with narrow majority

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After a nail-biting provincial election that was too close to call for nine days, David Eby’s BC NDP was asked to form the new government on Oct. 28.

This comes after a final ballot count, which saw the New Democrats win with a narrow majority of 47 seats compared to 44 seats for the BC Conservatives and two for the BC

Greens.

A record-breaking 2,107,152 voters, or an estimated 58 per cent of voter turnout, casted their ballots on Oct. 19 to have a say on who should govern the province for the next four years. 

On election night, however, no clear winner emerged. Two ridings had a difference of less than a 100 votes, triggering an automatic recount, and one additional riding was granted a recount by request. At the end of election night, the tally sat at 46 seats elected or leading for the NDP, 45 for the BC Conservatives, and two for the BC Greens. 

The election came down to the results of these too close to call ridings. This included a tally of mail-in ballots, absentee ballots, and a recount of election night ballots taking place over two days between Oct. 26 to 28. 

Independent candidates were expected to make a significant difference in the election as many former BC United candidates, previously known as the BC Liberals, ran as independents after BC United Leader Kevin Falcon suspended his party’s campaign in August. However, the independents received just over two per cent of the vote.  

On Oct. 28, B.C. Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin asked Eby’s BC NDP to form government, satisfied the party would receive the confidence of the legislature after the final count projected the New Democrats to secure 47 of 93 seats — just enough to form a narrow majority government. 

However, Eby said he wanted to hold off on forming a cabinet or resuming session in the legislature until the results of the judicial recount were complete in Surrey-Guildford on Nov. 8, which determined BC NDP candidate Garry Begg won by just 22 votes. This recount confirmed the BC NDP will hold a majority government.

A recount was also called for Kelowna Centre, which saw Conservative candidate Kristina Loewen win by 38 votes.

“This was a message sent certainly to me, to our government, from British Columbians that they expect us to do better on a number of key files,” Eby said about his narrow win during a press conference on Oct. 29. “But equally, [this is] the opportunity for us to do better.” 

Here is how the election results shaped up in each of Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s campus ridings. 

Surrey-Newton (KPU Surrey) 

Labour and human rights lawyer Jessie Sunner of the BC NDP won over Conservative candidate Tegjot Bal with 51 per cent of the vote. The riding had no incumbent candidate, with New Democrat Harry Bains not seeking re-election after serving as the riding’s MLA since 2005. 

Surrey-Cloverdale (KPU Tech)

MLA Elenore Sturko of the Conservative Party defeated incumbent NDP candidate Mike Starchuk by 587 votes, taking 48 per cent of the vote. Sturko was also up against BC Green Party candidate Pat McCutcheon, who received just over five per cent of the vote in the riding. 

Surrey City Centre (KPU Civic Plaza)

Formerly working with the B.C. Ministry of Housing, New Democrat Amna Shah won with just under 47 per cent of the vote in the new riding over Conservative candidate Zeeshan Wahla — a vote difference of just 236 separating the two. BC Green candidate Colin Boyd held six per cent of the vote in the riding. 

Langley-Willowbrook (KPU Langley) 

Jody Toor won in the new riding for the BC Conservatives, garnering just over 48 per cent of the vote. She beat incumbent BC NDP candidate Andrew Mercier by 866 votes. BC Green candidate Petrina Arnason received 7 per cent of the vote. 

Richmond Centre (KPU Richmond) 

Former news anchor and journalist Hon Chan of the BC Conservatives defeated NDP incumbent Henry Yao and unaffiliated candidate Wendy Yuan with 52 per cent of the vote. To see the full results of the 2024 B.C. provincial election, visit www.bit.ly/4fvgB97.