B.C. Conservatives win provisional majority, ending NDP rule

British Columbia’s Conservatives won a provisional majority in the October 24 provincial election, ending nine years of New Democratic Party government and setting party leader Lorne Doerkson on course to become premier. Preliminary results showed the Conservatives elected or leading in 64 of the legislature’s 93 seats, compared with 27 for the NDP and two for the Green Party. A majority requires 47 seats. The results were provisional, with the final count expected in early November and the seat tally subject to change. The result is the first provincial election victory for the Conservatives since 1928. Outgoing Premier David Eby announced he would resign as NDP leader after the defeat. He had called the early election on September 22, nearly two years before the next election was due. Doerkson, who became interim Conservative leader shortly before the campaign, said in his victory speech that his government would seek to expand the economy and improve health care and public safety. He also thanked Eby for his public service and said he would work with First Nations. Among the incoming government’s specific energy commitments, Doerkson said the Conservatives would double...