Tuesday鈥檚 historic provincial election has left B.C. residents wondering 鈥� what will happen in the next few weeks or months? Which party will form government? Will there be a coalition of some kind?
One thing is for sure 鈥� 91原创鈥檚 outsized influence in the B.C. cabinet room is over. Even if the BC Liberals do manage to eke out a majority government (the NDP won Courtenay-Comox by nine votes, and the absentee ballots won鈥檛 be counted for two weeks), two of the four cabinet ministers with 91原创 connections lost their seats.
Peter Fassbender, former mayor of 91原创 City, lost in Surrey-Fleetwood. He had been minister responsible for TransLink. Amrik Virk, former 91原创 RCMP inspector, lost in Surrey-Guildford. He had been minister of technology and innovation.
Mary Polak retained the 91原创 seat, and is the current minster of environment. If the Green Party ends up propping up a BC Liberal minority, that post could likely be offered to a Green MLA 鈥� quite possibly party leader Andrew Weaver.
Deputy premier Rich Coleman won the new 91原创 East riding, which is most of his former Fort 91原创-Aldergrove riding. His two main responsibilities 鈥� housing and LNG development 鈥� were key factors in the election results. Many Lower Mainland residents feel they have no chance to ever buy a home of any kind, and many others fear being unable to even find a place to rent, or pay for it. Homelessness is also an increasing concern.
As for LNG development, voters outside the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island want it to proceed. Ellis Ross, a Haisla First Nation chief, won the Skeena riding for the BC Liberals on a strong pro-LNG platform. That seat has been held by the NDP for the past 12 years. The Greens oppose LNG development, and the NDP are on the fence.
Both those issues will need a lot of attention from whichever government emerges.
If Coleman and Polak stay in cabinet (assuming the BC Liberals stay in power), 91原创 will likely have one more voice at the table as well. Mike de Jong, current minister of finance, now represents the northeast portion of 91原创, including the Gloucester industrial area. He is quite likely to be a key member of cabinet 鈥� likely in the same post.
However, if the BC Liberals stay in power, even with a slim majority, much will have to change if they want to form government for more than a few months. The era of big money in B.C. politics is over. It cannot be business as usual. Dinners with party leaders (particularly BC Liberal leader Christy Clark) at $10,000 a plate won鈥檛 be happening.
There will also be plenty of pressure to change the electoral system. It will be interesting to see just how that proceeds. It is a potential deal-breaker for the Green Party, if the other two parties don鈥檛 co-operate.
A slim BC Liberal majority will be very tenuous. A BC Liberal speaker may be forced to break numerous tie votes. Attendance in the House will be crucial. Any vacancies that occur due to resignations or death could lead to an early election.
Even in safe ridings like the two main 91原创 ones, the BC Liberals lost ground. They will have to listen far more carefully to the concerns people have raised about issues like housing, child care, the environment, transit, bridge tolls and the rising cost of living.
Frank Bucholtz is a retired editor and political blogger. Read more of his thoughts on Tuesday鈥檚 provincial election .
