After an incredibly tight election race and a nail-biting vote count over the past 10 days, Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin has asked B.C. NDP Leader David Eby to form the next provincial government.
However, whether it will be a majority or minority government is still unclear.
After a final count of votes on Monday, the NDP had won 47 of the province’s 93 ridings to scrape together a majority — but that number could still change as two ridings go to an automatic judicial recount.
The outcome of the election came down to around 22,000 absentee ballots that were counted on Monday.
Until Monday, six ridings remained too close to call between the NDP and the B.C. Conservatives following the results from election day on Oct. 19.
David Eby, the leader of British Columbia’s New Democratic Party, says he’s ‘not taking anything for granted’ as vote counting continues, following Saturday’s uncertain election results. But he says the Green Party is not ready to engage in conversations about supporting the NDP should it form a minority government.
According to Elections B.C., about 2.1 million voters cast ballots in this election. That equates to a turnout of 58.3 per cent of eligible voters, compared to 53.9 per cent in 2020, when the province was all but locked down during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A record number of British Columbians participated in advanced voting; Elections B.C. said more than one million people — more than 28 per cent of all registered voters — went to the polls ahead of Oct. 19.
The NDP took almost 44.9 per cent of the popular vote, while just under 43.3 per cent voted for the B.C. Conservatives, who currently have 44 seats. The B.C. Green Party finished with two seats and 8.2 per cent of the popular vote.
Eby gave a speech for supporters after what was a disappointing night for his party.
In its election platform, the NDP made several promises that could be key to maintaining their support over the next four years.
In a speech to supporters on election night, Eby said the results of the election showed his party needed to do better.
“I promise to be that premier that brings British Columbians together,” he said.
Here’s more on what the NDP promised British Columbians in the lead-up to election day.
Budget and affordability
Heading into the election, the NDP projected a nearly $9 billion budget deficit for the current fiscal year — the highest ever in the province — bringing the total provincial debt to $128.6 billion.
But Eby maintained this wasn’t a time for spending cuts but for building infrastructure like hospitals, schools and roads.
The party promised an annual tax cut of about $1,000 for households and $500 for individuals. The party also pledged to continue increasing the minimum wage based on inflation.
Eby said he would scrap the carbon tax if the federal government decided to drop it as a requirement.
The B.C. NDP promised to spend $500 million to expand the province’s $10-a-day child-care and said the seniors supplement would increase by $50 to $149 per month.
Environment and climate change
The NDP also promised to plant 300 million trees per year to mitigate the impacts of climate change and committed to protecting 30 per cent of B.C.’s land and water by 2030.
The use of RoundUp pesticides in B.C. forests will be phased out, the NDP said in its platform — though it wasn’t clear on a projected timeline.
As electric vehicles become more common in B.C., the NDP said it planned to double the number of EV charging stations across the province by 2030.
Health care, including mental health
Just before the election was called, Eby said he was going to expand the use of involuntary care for those with mental health and addictions in select situations.
The NDP promised to open new centres to support access to care for youth and that it planned to build another Red Fish Healing Centre, expand specialized treatment for parents going through addiction recovery and people with brain injuries and create a treatment centre specifically for construction workers.
During its last term, the B.C. NDP brought in a program allowing pharmacists to prescribe medication for a few conditions. The party promised to expand that program.
After years of emergency room closures across the province, Eby said he would build more Urgent and Primary Care Centres and expand their hours to include nights.
Sick notes would be eliminated under an NDP government, Eby promised, giving doctors more time with patients.
The NDP promised to make menopause hormone replacement treatment free.
It also promised to spend $324 million over three years to hire nurses, home support workers and other staff that help seniors live independently through programs like Better at Home and Hospital at Home.
Housing
The B.C. NDP has budgeted $1.29 billion to help middle-income homebuyers with up to 40 per cent of the purchase price.
Eby outlined plans to cut red tape preventing construction on smaller, multi-unit developments, use public land to build more homes and bring in pre-approved designs to speed up construction on new homes.
For renters, the party said it plans to continue to cap residential rent at or below inflation and end no-pet clauses in purpose-built rentals.
In its platform, the NDP promised more housing for Indigenous people throughout the province, both on and off reserve.
Public safety
Eby promised to push the federal government to strengthen bail and sentencing conditions to keep repeat offenders off the streets.
New hate-crime legislation and renewed efforts to seize cash and property from organized crime were promised in the party’s election platform, as well as higher fines for people speeding in cars that are valued over $150,000, more red light cameras at busy intersections and a dedicated highway patrol.
