After weeks of campaigning the B.C. provincial election has been decided - sort of.
It's been one of the more dramatic election years on record for B.C. upending the political status quo. For decades the B.C. NDP and B.C. Liberal, now the United Party of B.C., have traded power back and forth.
Yet this election saw the resurgence of the Conservative Party of B.C. under John Rustad who cannibalized Kevin Falcon's B.C. United wholesale before the election. The consequences of this move meant that dozens of former United candidates ran as independents or Conservatives, as the race became a contest between the centre-left NDP and the right-wing Conservatives.
To no one's surprise incumbent Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson held on to his seat, beating out first-time B.C. NDP Party candidate Michael Moses. Whatever else you may say about Doerkson, his devotion to the Cariboo-Chilcotin riding is evident, especially when he attends events from Williams Lake to 100 Mile House and down to Cache Creek, sometimes all in one day. That level of commitment, more so than his party affiliation, has clearly left an impact on the people of the Cariboo-Chilcotin.
Across the province, the results have been rather less decisive. As of the writing of this editorial, the NDP and Conservatives are locked in a dead heat with the B.C. NDP set to receive 46 seats, the Conservatives set to receive 45 and the B.C. Green Party securing two seats. A majority of at least 47 seats is typically needed to form a government in Victoria meaning, if any recounts change the outcome, we could see a minority government from either party. However, the NDP will likely cling to government with the Conservatives replacing B.C. United entirely as the opposition.
This division of parliament will be similar to the 2017 NDP government formed under John Horgan, which relied on the Green Party's support to pass many of its policies. Compromise and cooperation will ideally be the name of the game for this parliament, rather than obstruction and stagnation.
Being in opposition will be familiar for Doerkson who has spent his freshman term as MLA holding the government to account. With this minority, one hopes the NDP and Conservatives like Doerkson will now be able to work together to address the issues facing British Columbians and South Cariboo residents.
Healthcare. Housing. Infrastructure. Cost of living. Inflation. Toxic drugs. Addiction.
All of these issues are universal and impact us all, whatever party we vote for. It is now the responsibility of Doerkson and every other MLA to work together to address these issues, for the good of the province.
Let's hope this new legislature is up to the task.
