Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Michael Reeve

BC ELECTION 2024

Uncertainty abounds as B.C.’s political parties await fate; final count scheduled for October 26

Oct 21, 2024 | 5:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — As the dust begins to settle from what is being called the closest election in British Columbia’s history, uncertainty still remains about who will seize control of the province. As we currently stand, the NDP are clinging to a minority government, surpassing the upstart BC Conservatives by one seat, with the BC Greens likely holding the balance of power in Victoria. But with a few ridings still to undergo recounts and with approximately 45,000 mail-in and absentee ballots yet to be counted, it will be a waiting game for the final tally to come down this weekend.

After years of B.C. Liberal red, Conservative blue has taken over the two Kamloops ridings, with Ward Stamer and Peter Milobar elected to Victoria on Saturday (Oct. 19) night.

“Given how tight it’s been in a lot of the ridings, I think… an appetite for change is definitely there,” said Milobar on Saturday night. “There is a worry about what is happening in the economy, what’s happening in health care, and crime and safety on our streets that [voters] weren’t feeling were getting addressed. Whatever the final result is provincially, that government has to take those concerns seriously, I think, moving forward.”

“I don’t like the details a lot of the time. I like trying to cut to the chase and get right to it. We will find out [election night] if we are going to be government or not,” added Stamer at the Conservative election night party. “If we’re not, we’re going to be pushing as hard as we can for everybody in the region. and sure we have already talked about some of the scenarios, and some of the procedures and some of the committees and things like that I’ll have to be a part of.”

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The veteran three-term MLA Milobar and rookie Stamer took down the NDP in Kamloops, securing victory within 45 minutes of the polls closing. Despite the local loss, the New Democrats are still currently positioned to form government.

“I’m still feeling the win, regardless. We may not have won the seat, but 9,600 people placed their trust in me. That’s a win for me and I would like to say this — I have already created history in this town,” defeated Kamloops-Centre Candidate Kamal Grewal told CFJC News Saturday night.

As was the story in 2017, the BC Green Party is being anointed kingmaker, with its two MLAs holding the balance of power ahead of a likely confidence and supply agreement. However, they do return to Victoria without their leader.

“I think the first thing is I wouldn’t use the word NDP, we will see what the offers look like,” said Randy Sunderman, defeated Green candidate in Kamloops Centre. “The Greens will be very focused on what’s in their platform. There is going to be some horse trading, I suspect, as to how that works. And obviously, we were really passionate about what we had in the platform around health care, so hopefully some of that comes to the table.”

Whether in opposition or government after a recount, the Tories will be flush with rookie MLAs and, after a late campaign party switch, some contrasting views for Milobar.

“I’ve never actually met or talked with (controversial candidate Brent) Chapman or most of the others, and that is not unusual in a campaign, regardless of what has happened in the last seven weeks. I will take it one day at time, but I’m confident that I have always been able to be a bit of a consensus builder, and I’m confident moving forward that that can happen still.”

The final count will be on October 26.