Monday October 26, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC [Updated 3:45 pm]
by Mary P Brooke, editor | Island Social Trends
Today at 2 pm BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson made a short live livestreamed announcement that he will be stepping down as leader of the party as soon as a replacement is determined by party members.
He says it’s an opportunity for party members to rebuild the party.
Wilkinson congratulated re-elected Premier John Horgan yesterday by phone and posted a Tweet yesterday to that effect: “I’ve just got off the phone with @jjhorgan & congratulated him on his win. The people of B.C. have spoken & I want to thank every @bcliberals candidate & volunteer who helped make this campaign happen. / We’re still in the middle of a devastating pandemic and our focus remains making sure every person in our province is safe, healthy and able to get back on their feet. #bcpoli”
The BC General Election was two days ago on October 24, 2020 in which the BC NDP won a clear majority (votes cast that day combined with advance voting done over seven days October 15 to 17). However, all parties and British Columbians await the final vote-count results that won’t be known until possibly mid-November due to the high volume of mail-in ballots (over half a million) — together with absentee ballots, that will be counted in the 87 district electoral offices around the province.
On October 24, the BC NDP won 55 seats (up from 41 at dissolution), the BC Liberals won 29 seats (down from 41 at dissolution on September 21), and the BC Greens won three seats (maintaining their number from 2017, noting that former BC Green Leader Andrew Weaver left the party and sat as an independent in December 2019, leaving the party officially with two seats at dissolution).
At 2:50 pm Premier-elect John Horgan issued a statement on Andrew Wilkinson’s resignation as Opposition leader:
“I want to thank Andrew Wilkinson for his service and dedication to the people of British Columbia in his role as Opposition leader. I’ve done that job, and I’ve often said it’s the toughest job in politics. Mr Wilkinson led the official opposition through a very challenging time for our province. He ran a spirited campaign and I wish him the best in the future,” said Horgan.
“Mr Wilkinson has made our province and our civic life stronger by offering his ideas and his vision for our province. We are all better for his contributions. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all candidates from all parties who put their names forward in the election. Our democracy requires brave people to put their hands up, no matter the result,” Horgan stated today.
BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau issued a statement on Twitter at 3:05 pm today: “Thank you for your service as opposition leader @Wilkinson4BC. I look forward to continuing to work with you.”
Comment from Adrian Dix on Twitter today: “I wish to give my best to my colleague in the BC Legislature Andrew Wilkinson @Wilkinson4BC as he announces he will be stepping down as Leader of the Opposition. I expect he will continue to play a significant role in BC.”
