BC Elections Too Close to Call Tonight

The start of live TV broadcasts waiting for election results

British Columbia still doesn't know which party will govern it -- it's literally neck-and-neck between the NDP and the Conservatives because Elections BC is recounting 21 ridings as the votes are just too close.

So far, the NDP have 46 seats, the Conservatives 45, the Greens 2. Interestingly so far none of the independents, particularly the incumbents who were formerly BC United, have not made a dent at all.

Rustad giving a victorious speech tonight

The biggest winner tonight was Conservative leader John Rustad who was kicked out of the then BC Liberals and resurrected the blue party from the dead to have the best showing in 100 years. He is obviously chuffed at literally rebuilding the party from scratch. 

Despite his poor performance in the television debate, Rustad and his party has managed to turn the interior of the province deep blue with far less resources than the NDP, which won Metro Vancouver (except Vancouver-Quilchena) and the coastal areas. The results show voters are dissatisfied with the NDP and want change.

The biggest loser was David Eby of the NDP. The close vote is a repudiation of him wasting his two years as leader and not continuing on his predecessor John Horgan's positive streak and making things better for British Columbians. Instead Eby rested on his laurels and also dragged the province into C$9 billion in debt.

Tonight Eby ate his humble pie and has promised to work with the Green party to follow through on his promises.

Eby vowing to keep fighting Conservatives

Meanwhile even though Sonia Furstenau was considered the only adult in the room during the televised debate, she lost her seat tonight at the leader of the Green party. Part of the reason is she chose not to defend her seat in Cowichan Valley, but instead take on NDP incumbent Grace Lore in Victoria-Beacon Hill, a riding held by the NDP since 2005.

Nevertheless, the Greens managed to clinch two seats to maintain its political party status in the legislature, and will be the kingmaker to whoever wins the mandate to form the next government.

There are still some 100,000 mail-in ballots that also need to be counted! Perhaps tomorrow we'll know who won?!