BC Conservatives win majority government for first time in nearly a century

Explainer

The BC Conservatives have won a majority government, defeating David Eby's incumbent NDP and forming the province's first Conservative government in nearly a century. Lorne Doerkson will become premier after a snap election call that backfired on the NDP. Analysts projected the Conservatives would win 64 seats, compared to 27 for the NDP and two for the Greens. Eby conceded defeat and announced his resignation as leader of the NDP late Saturday night. "Together, we seized this opportunity, you guys, and together we voted for a better British Columbia," Doerkson told a cheering crowd in Vancouver. He promised to "supercharge" the province and "cut red tape like it's never been cut before." Doerkson, a low-profile MLA from Cariboo, Chilcotin, became the party's interim leader just one day before the snap election was called.

Eby held on to his Vancouver, Point Grey seat but offered a subdued concession. "I accept full responsibility for that outcome," Eby said. The last Conservative government in B.C. was elected in 1928 under leader Simon Fraser Tolmie. The NDP had held power since 2017, but Eby's campaign struggled with political gaffes and voter frustration over the early election call.

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What are the Conservatives' key platform promises?

Doerkson's campaign focused on bolstering the economy, cutting taxes and reducing regulations. The Conservative platform mentions climate just once, stating decisions should protect people from extreme weather, reduce emissions and deliver measurable results. One of Doerkson's first pledges was to repeal B.C.'s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, or DRIPA. The pledge appears in the platform under a section titled "protect private property rights," though the act does not deal with private property. The platform also promises to pass a law requiring information about Aboriginal Title claims and negotiations to be made public. It vows to "restore equal access to Crown land and provincial parks," a pledge that appears to target temporary cultural closures at Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park. "Simply just repealing it isn't going to do anyone any service," Dallas Smith, president of the Nanwakolas Council, told The Narwhal during the campaign. The Conservative platform says reconciliation will focus on "practical co-operation, clear and fair treaty agreements and economic opportunities."

How will the new government approach energy and the economy?

The Conservatives have promised to make B.C. an "energy superpower" by doubling liquefied natural gas production by 2032 and tripling it by 2035. With only one LNG export facility currently operating, five additional projects are already in development. Doerkson lamented the number of LNG projects proposed under past BC Liberal governments and said his party is keen to see if any can be revived. The platform pledges to get rid of B.C.'s industrial carbon tax and replace it with new rules to ensure gas exports are competitive. It also proposes a new approach to tallying greenhouse gas emissions, taking credit for "emissions avoided through cleaner B.C. exports," such as gas replacing coal. The party promises to boost energy production "from every available source," including increased use of logging waste for renewable fuels. Support for wind, solar and small-scale hydro is conditional on "where economics and reliability make sense." The 2026 platform did not mention nuclear power, which the party touted during the 2024 election. Doerkson has promised to bring back a ministry dedicated to cutting regulations, vowing that for every new regulation, his government would axe two existing ones.

What led to the NDP's defeat?

Eby called the snap election less than 48 hours after the Conservative party ousted its controversial leader, Kerry-Lynne Findlay. Your Space Hamilton reported in September that Findlay resigned amid weeks of caucus defections and party turmoil. Commentators widely viewed the NDP's election timing as politically motivated, a perception the party failed to shake. "Why are we having an election? I've got other things going on. Just go and do the government stuff, don't bother me with an election," Eby said, summarizing voter frustration. He acknowledged his main misstep was failing to properly notify voters of his intentions. "There's no question that I got ahead of British Columbians," Eby told CBC. During the campaign, Eby was forced to admit his children were enrolled in the province's coveted $10-per-day daycare program, meant for the most needy families. In the final weeks, he pivoted to appeal to Green voters, warning that splitting the progressive vote would hand power to the Conservatives. He cited 11 ridings from the last election where the NDP would have won if all Green support had gone to them.

What happens next?

The BC NDP will now form the official opposition. The BC Greens maintained their seat count, with leader Emily Lowan winning in Saanich North and the Islands and incumbent Jeremy Valeriote re-elected in West Vancouver, Sea to Sky. Doerkson, in his victory speech, said he was prepared to work hard for all British Columbians, particularly those outside urban centres. "For a very long time, a lot of British Columbians have felt like Victoria forgot about them, like the map maybe stopped at Hope," Doerkson said. "But tonight, the whole map counts for British Columbia." He promised to focus on rebuilding the economy, reinforcing public safety and making B.C. "the most prosperous province in this country."

With files from The Narwhal and National Post