By Chris Beach

Northern View

The Northern View #50: The BC Electorate Has Spoken!

Oct 23, 2024 | 9:41 AM

The people have spoken and the result so far is an almost 50 – 50 split in seats between the governing NDP and the upstart BC Conservatives.

Except for two Green Party seats which will likely tip the balance of power and end up deciding who forms the next government.

This election will be remembered for the phoenix-like return of the BC Conservative Party, a hundred years after they last led the BC government. Conservative Leader John Rustad said he will try and force another election as soon as possible to have another crack at winning a majority after just missing the mark.

But the voters are never wrong. He should respect the decision that British Columbians have collectively made and work with the NDP as much as possible to move the province forward.

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If a minority government falls, there will be an opportunity to go to the polls soon enough… but forcing the issue after we’ve just gone through the entire election process – and one for the ages at that – is not what most British Columbians want, and Rustad could pay the price for going against the popular will.

On the other side, in his election night speech, the NDP Leader David Eby was not very charitable towards those who checked the box on the Conservative side. It’s understandable that he would be bitter having seen a majority government slip through his fingers, but he’s the Premier and he should be more respectful and considerate of ALL voters in the province.

Eby himself has arguably fanned the flames of division with negative campaigning over the last several months. Pitting neighbor against neighbor and family member against family member is not helpful and it certainly didn’t appear to pay off for him at the ballot box.

The Premier should lick his wounds, listen to the message sent by over 1 million citizens who voted Conservative, Green or Independent, and find a way to work with those across the aisle… Because finding common ground for all British Columbians, is, after all, the job that he was elected to do.

I’m Chris Beach and this is the Northern View.

Editors note: The views expressed in this column do not necessarily represent the views of Pattison Media.