Tuesday October 29, 2024 | VICTORIA, BC [Latest update 6:24 pm]
Political news and analys by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Today the Premier’s first media availability will be held at the BC Legislature since the results of the October 19, 2024 provincial election were made final.
Final 43rd BC Provincial Election results were declared by Elections BC at 6:49 pm on October 28.
Earlier in the day, the Lieutenant Governor had asked BC NDP Leader David Eby to form government and Premier Eby issued a statement saying:
“After a close and hard-fought campaign, it’s now time to come together to deliver for people. … People want their elected representatives to deliver results. With renewed determination,” said Eby. [See full statement]
First media sessions:
- Premier Eby addressed media at 11 am at the legislature today.
- BC Conservative leader John Rustad addressed media at 2 pm at the legislature today.
David Eby at 11 am:
Today in his 11.am media availability Eby said he’s focusing on getting the legislature up and running. He hopes to get a speaker selected and a cabinet sworn in before year end.
Ahead of the election Eby had said the first full sitting would happen in February 2025. It takes time to bring new MLAs in particular up to speed.
He’s taking things one step at a time… first a speaker and cabinet, then Christmas break, and then start the year with fresh directions. In that time frame he will have had time to assess the impact of the BC Conservatives in the start-up phase, and also time to sort out more certainty of support from the two BC Green MLAs (and whether or not he now needs to set up anything formal in that regard).
Eby has had another brief meeting with BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau as recently as today. His thin majority of 47 BC NDP MLAs will probably need some reliable backup from the two new BC Green MLAs.
His government will work against racism and hate, he said emphatically today about the manner in which his government will move forward. Eby’s NDP will work with every MLA “if you share our values” he said in his media session this morning.
Today Eby said that the urban-rural divide in the election results “is very concerning to me”.
Eby’s government will continue to address affordability in this session and aims to ‘speak to people’s frustrations’ (something he commended BC Conservative leader John Rustad for on election night).
The premier thanked British Columbians for returning the BC NDP to govern for a third term.
Opposition Leader after election results:
BC Conservative Leader John Rustad also issued a statement yesterday, saying he accepts the results of the election and thanks the Elections BC workers for their work and over 900,000 people for voting.
“While there are still judicial recounts to be completed, it’s now clear that our party will not win enough seats to form government in BC,” said Rustad in his statement on Monday evening October 28.
“I am ready to begin the important work of leading BC’s Official Opposition. BC’s Conservative Caucus is committed to holding government accountable and advocating for policies that reflect the best interests of all British Columbians,” said Rustad in his published statement.
John Rustad at 2 pm:
Today in his media availability at the legislature Rustad reiterated earlier statements about how far his party has come in a short period of time in achieving a near majority with 44 seats.
“Coming out of the election I’m very excited about what we’ve achieved,” said Rustad today. “We have done something that nobody has done in Canadian history in such a short period of time. I’m very proud of that.”
“I’m disappointed that we didn’t form government but optimistic in terms of the work we have to do. And I’m very much looking forward to getting at it, holding this government to account,” said Rustad today’s scrum.
He referred to some of the BC NDP policies as “destructive” and said he will work to bring the government down if governance is not being delivered in the best interests of British Columbians.
But he adds, more specifically to do with the BC Greens: “There are always places where people of different perspectives have an opportunity to find common ground, so that’s the sort of thing we would look for.” There are things the BC Conservatives and BC Greens “can potentially work together on”.
Rustad said the BC Conservatives will put forward private members bills to “push forward some of the things we think should happen in British Columbia”. He’ll be “looking for those opportunities to push the government in the direction that we’ve been campaigning on and wanting to see”.
Rustad itemized forestry management, involuntary care and the carbon tax among the concerns that the BC Conservative MLAs will address in the upcoming legislative assembly.
SOGI in schools:
With regard to SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) in schools, will Rustad be pushing for parental involvement more than is presently in the system?
Rustad said the involvement of parents in their children’s education is fundamental to the values that support family well-being and he will definitely push on improving that aspect of public education.
“Absolutely. Parents should know what’s going on in our schools. Parents should have a right. It’s their right to know what’s happening with their children in education. That’s a very important piece of how our society operates,” said Rustad today in response to a question from Island Social Trends.
Juan de Fuca-Malahat candidate:
Rustad clearly stated that Marina Sapozhnikov – his candidate in Juan de Fuca-Malahat – would not be invited to run again if there is a snap election. He has totally rejected her comments about Indigenous peoples.
Comments & Congratulations to Premier Eby:
- “Congratulations Premier @Dave_Eby for this incredible win! The @bcndp took on Conservative threats of privatization and cuts – and won. British Columbians have a bright future ahead with a BCNDP government. When you elect New Democrats, we fight for you.” ~ Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh
- “@Dave_Eby on his election victory. CFIB looks forward to continuing to work with you, your government and MLAs in all parties.” ~ Dan Kelly, President, Canadian Federation of Independent Business
- More to come
Updates to come.
===== RELATED:
- Premier David Eby issues first post-election statement with “renewed determination” (Oct 28, 2024)
- Cabinet possibilities in thin 47-seat BC NDP majority (October 28, 2024)
- Dana Lajeunesse pulls it off for BC NDP in Juan de Fuca-Malahat (October 28, 2024)
- Darlene Rotchford delivers slam dunk for BC NDP in Esquimalt-Colwood (October 27, 2024)
- Grinding through the process for final BC Election 2024 results over the Oct 26-27 weekend (October 27, 2024)
- NEWS SECTIONS: BC PROVINCIAL ELECTION 2024 | POLITICS
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