BC NDP Leader David Eby has announced that he was asked to form government by Lt Governor Janet Austin.
The BC NDP has secured a slim majority in the provincial election, currently holding 47 of the 93 seats in the legislature. The announcement came after a nail-biting finish in Surrey-Guildford, where the NDP won by a mere 18 votes.
The razor-thin margins in several constituencies have set the stage for potential judicial recounts, most notably in Surrey-Guildford and Kelowna-Centre.
Under B.C. election law, a recount is automatic if the margin is less than one-fifth of one percent of the votes cast.
In Surrey-Guildford, the threshold for a recount stands at 38 votes, while Kelowna-Centre’s is at 51 votes. These recounts, to be overseen by justices of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, could occur within 7 to 15 days following the official results.
Already, automatic recounts in Surrey-Centre and Juan de Fuca-Malahat have affirmed the NDP’s wins.
The initial seat distribution, should it remain unchanged, places the Conservatives at 44 seats and the Greens at 2. However, the NDP’s choice of Speaker could effectively reduce their working majority, as typically, the Speaker does not vote except in rare tie-breaking scenarios.
Late ballots have played a significant role in this election, with over 54% of these votes favoring the NDP, which has been crucial in tipping the scales in their favor in several ridings. The election’s results have been described as one of the closest in B.C.’s history.
However, the outcomes of the judicial recounts in Surrey-Guildford and Kelowna-Centre loom large. If these recounts sway in favour of the opposition, Eby’s government could be reduced to a minority, complicating governance and potentially necessitating coalition agreements or support arrangements with the Greens.
The stakes are high as British Columbians await the final tally. A minority government would mean that Eby and the NDP would need to negotiate each piece of legislation carefully, potentially leading to compromises.
Conversely, a confirmed majority would give the NDP a mandate to push through their agenda, albeit with caution given the thin margin.
