Stock photo courtesy of ElectionsBC

By Liam Verster

Preliminary Election Results

NDP forecasted to form minority government, pending recounts

Oct 20, 2024 | 4:04 PM

All ballot boxes have reported and the B.C. NDP are projected to form the next government,

ElectionsBC completed the initial count of the votes, which showed the NDP winning 46 seats and having an opportunity to form a minority government.

The NDP received 908,944 votes in the election, representing 44.6 per cent of the vote.

The Conservative Party of B.C. is expected to form the opposition, having won 45 seats with 887,909, or 43.57 per cent of the vote.

The B.C. Green Party received a total of 166,863, or 8.19 per cent of the vote, to earn two seats in the legislature

Preliminary Election Results

NDP forecasted to form minority government, pending recounts

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Preliminary Election Results

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However, the figures are not finalized, and ElectionsBC said two ridings, Juan de Fuca-Malahat and Surrey City Centre, required recounts as the top two candidates finished with less than 100 vote difference between them. The NDP candidates had slight leads over their Conservative counterparts in both those ridings.

The recounts will be done as part of the final vote count, which will go from Oct. 26 to 28.

ElectionsBC noted a total of 2,038,075 valid votes were verified during the initial count on Oct. 19 and 20, representing a preliminary voter turnout of 57.41 per cent.

“To British Columbians who voted for change, I hear you and the serious message you have sent. We have not done enough and we must do better,” David Eby, leader of the NDP, said.

“Working to fix the tough challenges people are facing is what drives me — it’s what gets me out of bed in the morning. I’m committed to working with the legislature you elected to deliver for you.

“While elections are oppositional in nature, as British Columbians we are far more united. We all care about lowering the cost of living, building homes people can afford, making sure health care is there when you need it, and ensuring we live in safe communities in a clean environment with a strong economy.”

The leaders of B.C.’s Conservative and Green parties had not issued official statements as of time of publication.