B.C. politics have long been known as the most entertaining in Canada, but this latest election was one of the strangest yet.
Three leaders of the four most prominent parties lost their personal campaigns. While voters elected independent Vicki Huntington, leader John Cummins failed to lead the Conservatives to any seats. The Greens elected their first MLA in B.C. history, although leader Jane Sterk failed to beat former NDP leader Carole James.
Adrian Dix earned a seat, but his position as NDP leader is in jeopardy after leading his heavily favoured party to three fewer seats than it had when the campaign began.
Which brings us to Christy Clark, who is acknowledged to have run a more effective campaign than Dix, who frequently appeared nervous.
The Liberal leader might have focused more on campaigning for her party than promoting herself because she fell to her NDP opponent. Clark, who can now continue to remake the party as a true liberal party, is expected to run in a byelection vacated by a successful and loyal Liberal MLA.
Locally, things don’t look much different, as the NDP’s Doug Routley retained his position as MLA for a third consecutive term. In his victory speech, Routley said he believed it was his “record of serving the community on a personal level” that helped him win, and he emphasized the need to bring the community’s voice to Victoria. We hope you continue to give him that voice and that he’ll stick to his pledge.
—with help from the Comox Valley Record