NDP Secures Majority with Narrow 22-Vote Win in Surrey-Guildford Recount
The B.C. NDP has successfully maintained its majority in the provincial legislature following a judicial recount in the closely contested Surrey-Guildford riding. After overseeing the count, Justice Kevin D. Loo of the B.C. Supreme Court declared Garry Begg as the elected candidate, receiving 8,947 votes compared to the Conservative candidate’s 8,925 votes, a difference of only 22 votes. This outcome solidifies Premier David Eby’s New Democrats’ one-seat majority, nearly three weeks after the initial vote.
The recount process involved the counting of over 19,000 ballots, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the electoral results. In addition to the Surrey-Guildford riding, recounts were also completed in Kelowna-Centre and Prince George-Mackenzie. Conservative Kristina Loewen won Kelowna-Centre by 40 votes, while a box containing 861 uncounted ballots in Prince George-Mackenzie resulted in a resounding victory for the B.C. Conservatives by over 5,000 votes.
With the completion of the recounts, the NDP maintains the 47 seats required for a majority in the 93-seat legislature, with the Conservatives holding 44 seats and the Greens with two seats. Certification of the results is expected next week after the appeal period.
Looking ahead, Premier David Eby is focusing on forming his cabinet, which will be sworn in on November 18, the first Monday after Remembrance Day. The selection of an MLA to serve as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in Victoria is also forthcoming. While the role traditionally goes to a member of the ruling party, Eby has expressed openness to members from other parties taking on the position, though no decision has been made yet.
In light of the close races and ballot discrepancies that arose during the election, a review of the counting process is essential. While all parties express confidence in the election outcome, there is interest in examining what went wrong. British Columbia’s chief electoral officer, Anton Boegman, attributed the errors to human mistakes but emphasized the existing checks and balances in place. B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad has called for an independent review, while Eby has proposed an all-party committee to investigate the issues.
Recounts are not uncommon in B.C. elections, but changes to results are rare. Over the past 20 years, only one race has been overturned in the province. Judicial recounts, triggered when the margin is less than 1/500th of the total votes cast, have resulted in minimal changes to the outcomes. Despite the meticulous recount process, the number of votes changing hands has decreased in recent years, indicating improved accuracy and reliability in the electoral system.
Overall, the completion of the judicial recounts in key ridings underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the electoral process. The NDP’s retention of its majority signals stability and continuity in governance, setting the stage for a new chapter in British Columbia’s political landscape.
