Not only was the recent BC Election one of the closest in Canadian history, but it also saw the BC Conservatives elect an MLA for the first time in over 50 years and may have allowed the NDP to form Government for an unprecedented third term… At the time of this writing, the NDP is leading or elected in 46 ridings and the Conservatives in 45. Both parties are shy of the 47 seats needed for a majority government. However, the initial count did not include the roughly 49,000 absentee and mail-in ballots, and three ridings are too close to call, so hopefully, we’ll have more clarity by the time you read this.
What we do know with certainty is who will be representing Area G.
Debra Toporowski, who has sat to my left for the last 18 months at the CVRD board table, won a back-and-forth battle for the NDP over Conservative John Koury and BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau. Debra is a two-term elected councillor for North Cowichan and a five-time councillor of Cowichan Tribes. She is now the MLA elect for Dayman Island, Hudson Island, Leech Island, Miami Islet, Penelakut Island, Ragged Islets, Reid Island, Rose Islets, Scott Island, Tent Island and Thetis Island. Debra is a measured leader who cares deeply about her community. I’m proud to call her a colleague and friend.
Congratulations, Debra! I look forward to our continued work together in your new capacity.
Stephanie Higginson, previously twice elected to the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Board of Education, is Saltair’s MLA elect. She won the unique Ladysmith-Oceanside riding for the NDP in a flip-flopping nailbiter. I don’t know Stephanie personally, but she is the only candidate who responded to my request for an all-candidates meeting that I hoped to hold at the Saltair Community Center.
Congratulations, Stephanie! Your openness to engage is very encouraging.
Nearly 2,037,900 ballots were cast, the most votes ever tallied in a BC provincial election. However, as a percentage, only 57.4 percent of registered voters cast ballots, which is low historically. Indeed, the atmospheric river played a role in turnout. Still, it’s true that when elections go negative, people get disinclined and turn away.
One of the things I love most about Area G is that it’s nonpartisan, which allows us to focus on what matters to our family and neighbours. After the Government is formed, I pledge to stay positive and work unencumbered.
In closing, I want to acknowledge the thousands of volunteers (win or lose) who supported the issues they care about and candidates across the province who put their names forward. Politics is a full-contact sport, brutal on the candidates and their families during an election. They all deserve our gratitude. Lastly, congratulations to Lia Versaevel, my financial agent, on her hard-fought campaign for the BC. Greens in Nanaimo Lantzville.
Save the Date: On November 5th, the CVRD will host a meeting at Cowichan Community Centre focused on regional Agricultural Zoning.
