Wednesday October 23, 2024 | VICTORIA, BC [Posted 2 pm | Last update 3:08 pm]
Political analysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Today BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau said she has discussed the election outcome with Premier David Eby. She has yet to speak with BC Conservative Leader John Rustad.
Having seen two BC Green MLAs elected in the October 19, 2024 provincial election, Furstenau will be focusing on bringing them up to speed on their role as Green MLAs.
Furstenau said today that she is “fiercely proud” of having two new BC Green MLAs: Jeremy Valeriote (West Vancouver-Sea to Sky) and Ron Botterell (Saanich North and the Islands).
She did not win the MLA seat in Victoria-Beacon Hill on October 19; she was up against BC NDP incumbent Grace Lore. Furstenau said today that she has no regrets about running for elected office in the area of the city that she calls home.
The biggest election wish:
It seems that Furstena’u’s biggest election wish has come true! Neither of the major parties has been given all of the power. Though it does now appear that the BC Greens have a whole lot of power now, to help broker the formation of the next government.
In the October 19, 2024 provincial election the BC NDP got 46 seats and the BC Conservatives won in 45; neither can presently form a majority (and the final vote count to be complete on October 28 may change those numbers anyhow).
Significance of the two new MLA wins:
The two new MLAs bring political significance to their victories:
- Replacing two previous MLAs (Sonia Furstenau and Adam Olsen), holding at least that many BC Green seats in the next BC Legislative Assembly.
- Winning a BC Green seat on the lower mainland for the first time (Jeremy Valeriote winning in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky).
- Holding a previous BC Green riding as a stronghold (Ron Botterell winning in Adam Olsen’s old riding of Saanich North and the Islands).
Balance of power:
Valeriote and Botterell also acknowledge that they find themselves in a position of holding the balance of power in the BC Legislature. Furstenau will be focusing on supporting them in upcoming negotiations with the BC NDP and/or the BC Conservatives depending on how the final vote count works out.
She pointed out to media today that she is likely the only person in the upcoming negotiations who has been through that process before. She was a new BC Green MLA in 2017 when the BC Greens brokered a deal with then-new BC NDP Premier John Horgan.
Eby has all but publicly offered to form an alliance of some kind with the BC Greens. For Furstenau, there is a lot that would need to be cleared up with Rustad (including the questionable views of some of his MLAs-elect) before she would consider discussions there.
Municipalities and climate change:
As Furstenau prepares to essentially broker the format of the next BC Legislature, she encourages municipalities to prepare their requests of government with regard to climate change.
That would include related infrastructure, appropriate planning around land and housing, the farming of arable land, and emergency support services.
Coincidentally, the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship is working to develop provincial flood policy guidance, something that the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM brought to the attention of their member municipalities this morning). Written feedback will be accepted by the Ministry up to December 20, 2024.
Forward from here:
Furstenau is focusing on the task at hand to help form and stabilize the 43rd parliament, with policy implementation work to come later.
Valeriote and Botterell have a huge responsibility in this going forward, which they both acknowledged today.
===== RELATED:
- Premier David Eby’s first press conference following thin-margin BC election results (October 22, 2024)
- Sonia Furstenau staying on as BC Green party leader (October 22, 2024)
- BC Greens celebrate Election 2024 in Victoria (October 19, 2024)
- Furstenau takes BC Green fight to downtown Victoria (February 1, 2024)
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