Conservatives Win in British Columbia, Lorne Doerkson Becomes Premier

The Conservatives have won a snap election in Canada's British Columbia, and Lorne Doerkson will become the province's new premier. It is the first time the party has won power in the province in nearly a century.

Doerkson took the helm of the party only weeks ago. A former rodeo announcer and newspaper publisher, he was first elected to the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in 2020. The 58-year-old has said he learned, while on a flight home from South Africa last month, that his caucus colleagues wanted him as the party's new figurehead.

Before that, in September, the BC Conservatives' former leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned amid internal party conflict that saw a third of her caucus quit the party.

Outgoing Premier David Eby, of the New Democratic Party (NDP), called the snap election last month, two years early, in an attempt to shore up his party's power. Eby, who became premier in 2022, said the western province needed a 'fire break' against US President Donald Trump's economic attacks and the 'Trump-style politics' threatening it.

Eby also argued that a one-seat majority meant every vote could bring down the government, and that his party needed a bigger majority to pass its policies more quickly. But Saturday's results show voters were ready for someone new — his gamble backfired.

The NDP is projected to have won just 27 of the 93 seats in the legislative assembly, while Doerkson's Conservatives are projected to have won 64.

In his victory speech on Saturday night, Doerkson said British Columbians are hardworking, trailblazing people who want a fair shot at building something in the province, and that the spirit needs a government on its side.

Doerkson has promised to cut red tape 'like it's never been cut before' by fast-tracking forestry and mining permits, and to triple natural gas production by 2035.

In his concession speech, Eby resigned as provincial NDP leader and said he accepts full responsibility for the outcome.

The British Columbia result follows another recent shakeup in Canadian provincial politics: earlier this month, Quebec's sovereigntist Parti Quebecois won enough seats in its provincial election to form a minority government, adding a new test for Canada's unity.