Peter Milobar (l) and Jackie Tegart (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Election 2020

Mail-in counting gives Kamloops-North Thompson, Fraser-Nicola to B.C. Liberals

Nov 8, 2020 | 8:50 AM

VICTORIA — Elections B.C. has wrapped up its mail-in ballot counting in two closely-contested Kamloops-area ridings after the October 24 provincial election – and both will remain B.C. Liberal.

In Kamloops-North Thompson, B.C. Liberal incumbent Peter Milobar’s election night margin over NDP challenger Sadie Hunter was 791 votes.

After more than 5,000 mail-in and absentee ballots were counted, Milobar won the riding with a margin of 416 over Hunter.

In Fraser-Nicola, B.C. Liberal incumbent Jackie Tegart held a narrow 353 vote advantage over NDP challenger Aaron Sumexheltza on election night.

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Are the B.C. Conservatives digging their own graves?

2h ago

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Culturally appropriate food goes beyond the ingredients on a plate

Dec 14, 2024

Two and Out

PETERS: Whether building up or tearing down, Kamloops is what you make it

Dec 13, 2024

With about 2,400 mail-in and absentee ballots now counted, Tegart took the riding with a margin of 282 votes.

There were some surprises after mail-in vote-counting was complete.

The B.C. Green Party thought it had wrested West Vancouver-Sea to Sky away from the B.C. Liberals on election night, but Liberal Jordan Sturdy came back to lead by 41 votes after mail-in counting.

That will go to an automatic recount because the margin is so slim.

In Chilliwack-Kent, mail-in balloting gave the riding to NDP challenger Kelli Paddon over incumbent Laurie Throness.

Throness left the B.C. Liberals midway through the campaign after making public comments in which he compared offering free birth control to eugenics.