While the NDP are set to form a slim majority in the B.C. legislature after one of the tightest elections which initially looked like a minority NDP government (although two judicial recounts are underway still in two very close ridings), leader and returning Premier David Eby has much to improve if he wants to hold on to the top job after near debacle of what was a “gimme election” for his incumbent party. Eby’s over emphasis on supporting renters and putting out anti-real estate investment policies with 20 percent tax and adding a month to the current two month eviction (initially it was four months but was changed to three after much backlash) as well as SOGI backlash hurt the party big time in Surrey, where it lost key ridings in what was an NDP bastion. Eby and his left-wing NDP should rethink many of these policies going forward as the political landscape is bound to change again in four years as a new right-centre party will be established and BC Conservatives will not be the main contenders. But for now, the B.C. election is officially as Elections BC released the final ballot count results on Monday, with the NDP securing 47 seats, the BC Conservatives with 44, and the BC Greens with two seats. Forty-seven is the magic number for a majority.

By R. Paul Dhillon – Editor DESIBUZZCanada

VICTORIA – While the NDP are set to form a slim majority in the B.C. legislature after one of the tightest elections which initially looked like a minority NDP government (although two judicial recounts are underway still in two very close ridings), leader and returning Premier David Eby has much to improve if he wants to hold on to the top job after near debacle of what was a “gimme election” for his incumbent party. 

Eby’s over emphasis on supporting renters and putting out anti-real estate investment policies with 20 percent tax and adding a month to the current two month eviction (initially it was four months but was changed to three after much backlash) as well as SOGI backlash hurt the party big time in Surrey, where it lost key ridings in what was an NDP bastion. 

Eby and his left-wing NDP should rethink many of these policies going forward as the political landscape is bound to change again in four years as a new right-centre party will be established and BC Conservatives will not be the main contenders.

But for now, the B.C. election is officially as Elections BC released the final ballot count results on Monday, with the NDP securing 47 seats, the BC Conservatives with 44, and the BC Greens with two seats. Forty-seven is the magic number for a majority.

"Based on today's final vote count, and pending judicial recounts, British Columbians have asked our BC NDP team to lead our province for a third time. It is an incredible honour and a huge responsibility. We are listening to the message voters sent with this close election, and will be getting to work on today's tough challenges right away,” Eby said Tuesday.

"After a close and hard-fought campaign, it's now time to come together to deliver for people. Today, I met with Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin. She has asked me to form the next government. We will, and we will work hard every day to earn the trust you have placed in us.

"People want their elected representatives to deliver results. With renewed determination, we will build on the progress we've made to reduce daily costs like car insurance and childcare, hire thousands of health care workers and get you a family doctor, deliver homes you can afford, and make sure our economy works for everyone–not just those at the top. There is so much more work to do to lighten the load for people,” Eby said.

As Eby mentioned, final results in two ridings still remains up in the air as the judicial recounts in two ridings — Surrey-Guildford and Kelowna Centre — continue where the margin of victory is less than 1/500th of the total number of votes cast.

Elections BC says an automatic judicial recount is triggered if the difference between the top two candidates is less than one five-hundredth of the total ballots considered in that district.