VICTORIA -- John Horgan and the B.C. NDP have won a majority government in the 2020 B.C. election.
Horgan's decision to call an election, more than a year ahead of schedule and during a pandemic, became a campaign issue from the start of the campaign.
The Greens accused Horgan of breaking a governing agreement in place since 2017, with leader Sonia Furstenau saying the legislature had been showing an unusual level of co-operation during the pandemic.
BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson accused Horgan of withholding pandemic relief dollars for struggling businesses in order to bolster his chest of election goodies.
Below is an up-to-the-minute tally of election results from every riding on Vancouver Island, plus the riding of Powell River-Sunshine Coast.
Use the links below to skip to local races or scroll down for all Vancouver Island riding results:
- North Island
- Courtenay-Comox
- Mid Island-Pacific Rim
- Parksville-Qualicum
- Nanaimo
- Nanaimo-North Cowichan
- Cowichan Valley
- Saanich North and the Islands
- Langford-Juan de Fuca
- Esquimalt-Metchosin
- Victoria-Beacon Hill
- Oak Bay-Gordon Head
- Victoria-Swan Lake
- Saanich South
- Powell River-Sunshine Coast
CTV News declares Michele Babchuk elected as MLA for North Island.
NDP candidate Michele Babchuk has been elected as MLA for the North Island riding.
Babchuk is a Campbell River city councillor and chair of the Stratchona Regional District. She also served as a Campbell River School District trustee for nine years.
The riding was formerly filled by NDP MLA Claire Trevena, who also acted as the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure for B.C. after the 2017 provincial election.
Trevena had previously announced that she would not be seeking re-election this year.
Background:
In the last election in North Island, Claire Trevena of the NDP took 47.72 per cent of the vote, defeating Dallas Smith of the BC Liberal Party by a margin of 12.39 percentage points.
Trevena, who served as the minister of transportation and infrastructure, did not seek re-election this year.
The North Island riding includes the communities of Port McNeill, Campbell River and Port Hardy.
There are 45,121 registered voters in the riding, compared to 41,570 in the last election.
As of Oct. 20, 8,053 vote-by-mail packages had been issued to registered voters.
The previous voter turnout rate in the riding was 62.49 per cent, compared to 61.18 per cent province-wide.
CTV News declares Ronna-Rae Leonard elected MLA for Courtenay-Comox.
B.C. NDP incumbent candidate Ronna-Rae Leonard has been re-elected as MLA for Courtenay-Comox.
Leonard was first elected in the riding in 2017 and was appointed the NDP’s Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors in February.
Leonard had previously served as a Courtenay city councillor from 2005-2014, chaired the Vancouver Island Regional Library Board, was on the Regional Water Supply Strategy Commission and Sewage Commission and was twice elected to the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities.
Background
It was a tight race in the last election in Courtenay-Comox when Ronna-Rae Leonard of the NDP took 37.36 per cent of the vote, defeating Jim Benninger of the BC Liberal Party by a margin of 0.64 percentage points.
Benninger did not run again this year.
The Courtenay-Comox riding includes the communities of Puntledge and Courtenay.
There are 46,806 registered voters in the riding, compared to 43,671 in the last election.
As of Oct. 20, 12,134 vote-by-mail packages had been issued to registered voters.
The previous voter turnout rate in the riding was 66.89 per cent, compared to 61.18 per cent province-wide.
CTV News declares Josie Osborne has been elected as MLA for Mid Island-Pacific Rim.
Tofino’s mayor, Josie Osborne, will be stepping down from her municipal post after a convincing win in Saturday’s provincial election, CTV News predicts.
The NDP candidate for Mid Island–Pacific Rim took an early and commanding lead.
Just after 9 p.m. Saturday, Osborne was well over 1,000 votes ahead of her nearest competitor.
Background:
It was a landslide victory in the last election in Mid Island-Pacific Rim when Scott Fraser of the NDP took 49.05 per cent of the vote, defeating Darren DeLuca of the BC Liberal Party by a margin of 23.36 percentage points.
Fraser, who served as the minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation, did not seek re-election this year. DeLuca did not run again either.
The Mid Island-Pacific Rim riding includes the communities of Cumberland, Courtenay, Port Alberni and Ucluelet.
There are 44,869 registered voters in the riding, compared to 40,677 in the last election.
As of Oct. 20, 7,517 vote-by-mail packages had been issued to registered voters.
The previous voter turnout rate in the riding was 63.22 per cent, compared to 61.18 per cent province-wide.
As of midnight Saturday, the Parksville-Qualicum race was still too close to call and no clear winner could be predicted.
Background
The last election in Parksville-Qualicum saw Michelle Stilwell of the BC Liberal Party take 45.13 per cent of the vote, defeating Sue Powell of the NDP by a margin of 16.47 percentage points.
Stilwell is up for re-election this year. Powell, however, is not running again.
The NDP is running Adam Walker as its candidate, Don Purdey is the candidate for the Conservative party and Rob Lyon is running for the Green party.
John St John is running as an Independent.
The Parksville-Qualicum riding includes the communities of Fairwinds, Nanaimo and Parksville.
There are 48,396 registered voters in the riding, compared to 45,891 in the last election.
As of Oct. 20, 14,273 vote-by-mail packages had been issued to registered voters.
The previous voter turnout rate in the riding was 70.21 per cent, compared to 61.18 per cent provincewide.
CTV declares Sheila Malcolmson has been re-elected as MLA for Nanaimo.
Incumbent NDP MLA Sheila Malcolmson first stepped into provincial politics in 2019, after defeating BC Liberal candidate Tony Harris in a byelection by a margin of 9.98 percentage points.
Prior to her parliamentary work, Malcolmson served on the Islands Trust council, championing fair ferry service, marine safety and oil spill prevention.
As chairwoman of the Islands Trust council, she worked with all levels of government to sign agreements with the Snuneymuxw First Nation to better establish a respectful relationship around land use management and heritage conservation.
In her maiden speech before the House of Commons, Malcolmson spoke about the importance of reconciliation and the rights of Indigenous peoples.
Malcolmson currently resides on Gabriola Island.
Background:
In a 2019 byelection in Nanaimo, Malcolmson of the NDP took 49.88 per cent of the vote, defeating Tony Harris of the BC Liberal Party by a margin of 9.98 percentage points.
There are 47,798 registered voters in the riding, compared to 44,184 in the last election.
As of Oct. 20, 11,468 vote-by-mail packages had been issued to registered voters.
The voter turnout rate in the 2019 byelection was 52.63 per cent, compared to 61.18 per cent province-wide in the 2017 election.
CTV News declares Doug Routley re-elected for Nanaimo-North Cowichan.
Routley was first elected in Cowichan-Ladysmith in 2005 and then again after riding redistribution in 2009.
He was born in 1961 in New Westminster, and grew up in Duncan.
Routley attended Camosun College before travelling to Japan, where he lived and worked for a year.
Routley has experience in logging, as a sawmill worker, tree planter and in construction. He also has been a business owner and operator, school custodian and school trustee.
Background:
It was an easy victory in the last election in Nanaimo-North Cowichan when Doug Routley of the NDP took 46.89 per cent of the vote, defeating Alana DeLong of the BC Liberal Party by a margin of 18.71 percentage points.
Chris Istace was the candidate for the Green party and Duck Paterson ran for the BC Liberal Party.
The Nanaimo-North Cowichan riding includes the communities of Nanaimo, Cedar, Chemainus, Crofton and Ladysmith.
There are 45,841 registered voters in the riding, compared to 41,393 in the last election.
As of Oct. 20, 9,956 vote-by-mail packages had been issued to registered voters.
The previous voter turnout rate in the riding was 63.73 per cent, compared to 61.18 per cent provincewide.
CTV News declares BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau re-elected as MLA for Cowichan Valley.
BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau has held onto her seat in the Cowichan Valley riding.
The incumbent candidate was first elected as MLA for the Cowichan Valley in 2017 and was elected BC Green Party Leader in 2020.
Her platform focuses on protecting the Cowichan Valley’s watersheds, child wellness, updating public health and education infrastructure and First Nations’ leadership.
Before she was elected MLA in 2017, she was area B director for the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) for three years.
Background:
In the last election in Cowichan Valley, Sonia Furstenau of the Green party took 37.24 per cent of the vote, defeating Lori Lynn Iannidinardo of the NDP by a margin of 5.61 percentage points.
The Cowichan Valley riding includes the communities of Cobble Hill, Duncan, Shawnigan - Mill Bay, Cowichan Bay and Lake Cowichan.
There are 48,879 registered voters in the riding, compared to 45,641 in the last election.
As of Oct. 20, 10,702 vote-by-mail packages had been issued to registered voters.
The previous voter turnout rate in the riding was 67.58 per cent, compared to 61.18 per cent province-wide.
CTV News declares Adam Olsen re-elected as MLA for Saanich North and the Islands.
Incumbent BC Green candidate Adam Olsen has been re-elected as MLA for the Saanich North and the Islands riding.
Olsen previously served as a Central Saanich municipal councillor from 2008 to 2013 and was the interim leader for the BC Green Party after former leader Andrew Weaver stepped down in January due to health reasons. He now serves as the deputy leader for the BC Green Party.
He is also on the Greater Victoria Library Board and Regional Housing Trust Fund.
Background:
In the last election in Saanich North and the Islands, Adam Olsen of the Green party took 41.95 per cent of the vote, defeating Gary Holman of the NDP by a margin of 11.39 percentage points.
The Saanich North and the Islands riding is located in the Victoria area.
There are 50,488 registered voters in the riding, compared to 47,615 in the last election.
As of Oct. 20, 16,136 vote-by-mail packages had been issued to registered voters.
The previous voter turnout rate in the riding was 74.14 per cent, compared to 61.18 per cent province-wide.
CTV News declares John Horgan has been re-elected as MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca and Premier of B.C.
Horgan has led the New Democrats since May 2014 and has served as B.C. premier since July 2017.
He was first elected to the legislature in 2005 as MLA for Juan de Fuca, and has been re-elected three times.
Born in Victoria in 1960, Horgan earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Trent University in Ontario and Sydney University in Australia.
In 2001, Horgan started a management and research consulting company helping both private and public sector organizations.
A cancer survivor, he is a passionate advocate for health care, public schools and community services for families. John and his wife Ellie have two adult sons.
Background:
The last election in Langford-Juan de Fuca saw NDP Leader John Horgan take 52.75 per cent of the vote, defeating Cathy Noel of the BC Liberal Party by a margin of 26.64 percentage points.
Gord Baird was the candidate for the Green party and Kelly Darwin ran for the BC Liberal Party.
Tyson Strandlund ran for the Communist Party of BC.
The Langford-Juan de Fuca riding includes the community of Sooke.
There are 47,552 registered voters in the riding, compared to 40,532 in the last election.
As of Oct. 20, 12,120 vote-by-mail packages had been issued to registered voters.
The previous voter turnout rate in the riding was 62.11 per cent, compared to 61.18 per cent provincewide.
CTV declares Mitzi Dean has been re-elected as MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin.
The NDP have held the Esquimalt-Metchosin riding with a convincing win by incumbent Mitzi Dean.
CTV’s election desk declared Dean the winner just after 9 P.M. on Saturday.
At that time the NDP candidate had roughly 55 per cent of the vote in the South Island riding.
Dean, who was elected in the riding in 2017, has an extensive past with outreach organizations in the region.
She was the executive director of the Colwood-based Pacific Centre Family Services Association.
The group assists around 1,600 people impacted by trauma every year.
Background:
The last election in Esquimalt-Metchosin saw Mitzi Dean of the NDP take 46.25 per cent of the vote, defeating Barb Desjardins of the BC Liberal Party by a margin of 18.64 percentage points.
There are 41,312 registered voters in the riding, compared to 38,909 in the last election.
As of Oct. 20, 12,166 vote-by-mail packages had been issued to registered voters.
The previous voter turnout rate in the riding was 65.88 per cent, compared to 61.18 per cent province-wide.
CTV News declares Grace Lore the winner of Victoria-Beacon Hill
Incumbent BC NDP candidate Grace Lore has been re-elected as MLA for the Victoria-Beacon Hill riding.
Lore is an educator and researcher at the University of Victoria and University of British Columbia with a focus on affordable housing, child care and anti-violence.
She is a long-time advocate of anti-violence at the Victoria Sexual Assault centre.
Background
Lore is a community organizer and lecturer at the University of Victoria, as well as a researcher at the University of British Columbia. Her platform issues include a focus on affordable housing, child care, along with being an anti-violence advocate with the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre.
The last election in Victoria-Beacon Hill saw Carole James of the NDP take 53.05 per cent of the vote, defeating Kalen Harris of the Green party by a margin of 22.67 percentage points.
James, who served as the deputy premier and finance minister, did not seek re-election this year. Harris did not run again either.
There are 48,772 registered voters in the riding, compared to 47,321 in the last election.
As of Oct. 20, 18,363 vote-by-mail packages had been issued to registered voters.
The previous voter turnout rate in the riding was 64.2 per cent, compared to 61.18 per cent province-wide.
CTV News declares Murray Rankin has been elected as MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head.
NDP candidate Murray Rankin has been elected MLA for the Oak Bay-Gordon Head riding, marking a gain for the BC NDP.
The seat was previously held by former BC Green Leader Andrew Weaver, who stepped down as leader of the party in January and left the party the same month to sit as an independent in the riding. He had previously announced that he was not running in the next election before it was called.
Rankin is the former MP for Victoria after stepping down in 2019. He is also the current vice-chair of the federal government’s Justice and Human Rights committee.
Background:
The last election in Oak Bay-Gordon Head saw Andrew Weaver of the Green party take 52.20 per cent of the vote, defeating Alex Dutton of the BC Liberal Party by a margin of 28.45 percentage points.
Weaver, who was the Green party's previous leader, did not seek re-election this year. Dutton did not run again either.
The Oak Bay-Gordon Head riding is located in the Victoria area.
There are 42,385 registered voters in the riding, compared to 41,117 in the last election.
As of Oct. 20, 15,918 vote-by-mail packages had been issued to registered voters.
The previous voter turnout rate in the riding was 71.99 per cent, compared to 61.18 per cent province-wide.
CTV News declares Rob Fleming has been elected as MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake
NDP Incumbent MLA Rob Fleming has held onto his seat of Victoria-Swan Lake.
Fleming was first elected into the riding in 2005, when it was formerly known as the Victoria-Hillside riding, and was re-elected to the position when it was re-configured into its current title in 2009.
Fleming serves as the BC NDP’s Minister of Education and formerly served two terms as a Victoria city councillor. He also previously chaired the city’s finance committee and served on the Victoria Regional Transit Commission and the Capital Housing Corporation.
Background:
It was a landslide victory in the last election in Victoria-Swan Lake when Rob Fleming of the NDP took 53.60 per cent of the vote, defeating Christopher Maxwell of the Green party by a margin of 23.89 percentage points.
The Victoria-Swan Lake riding is located in Victoria.
There are 40,590 registered voters in the riding, compared to 39,046 in the last election.
As of Oct. 20, 12,978 vote-by-mail packages had been issued to registered voters.
The previous voter turnout rate in the riding was 64.33 per cent, compared to 61.18 per cent province-wide.
CTV News declares Lana Popham has been elected as MLA for Saanich South.
Popham, first elected in 2009, has served as the Minister of Agriculture for the last three years.
Popham’s community work includes working to reduce excessive automobile use and minimizing the use of single-use plastics in the capital region.
During her time as an MLA, she introduced two bills – the British Columbia Local Food Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Mink Farms) Amendment Act.
As agriculture minister, Popham helped implement the NDP’s agricultural platform of reforming the Agriculture Land Commission and developing the Grow BC, Feed BC, and Buy BC initiatives, which encourage British Columbians to buy and farm local products.
Background:
In the last election in Saanich South, Lana Popham of the NDP took 42.46 per cent of the vote, defeating David Calder of the BC Liberal Party by a margin of 11.41 percentage points.
Popham, who served as the minister of agriculture, ran for re-election this year. Calder did not run again this year.
The Saanich South riding is located in the Victoria area.
There are 41,697 registered voters in the riding, compared to 39,926 in the last election.
As of Oct. 20, 14,230 vote-by-mail packages had been issued to registered voters.
The previous voter turnout rate in the riding was 70.63 per cent, compared to 61.18 per cent province-wide.
CTV News declares Nicholas Simons the winner for Powell River-Sunshine Coast.
Incumbent NDP MLA Nicholas Simons was elected in 2017 and served as chair of the select standing committee on children and youth in 2017.
Simons had been previously been Opposition critic for coastal economic development, arts and culture, and community living.
Simons was first elected in 2005 after 15 years working in the areas of health, justice, social services and child welfare.
For the last eight years he was director of health and social development for the Sechelt Nation and executive director of child and family services.
Before that, Simons was a child-protection social worker and consultant for private firms and various governments in law reform, child welfare, legal education and crime prevention.
Simons lives with his partner on the Sunshine Coast.
Background:
The last election in Powell River-Sunshine Coast saw Nicholas Simons of the NDP take 50.70 per cent of the vote, defeating Mathew Wilson of the BC Liberal Party by a margin of 26.17 percentage points.
The Powell River-Sunshine Coast riding includes the communities of Powell River, Gibsons, Sechelt, Roberts Creek and Welcome Beach.
There are 41,282 registered voters in the riding, compared to 38,778 in the last election.
As of Oct. 20, 8,339 vote-by-mail packages had been issued to registered voters.
The previous voter turnout rate in the riding was 69.6 per cent, compared to 61.18 per cent province-wide.
