B.C. Conservatives win a majority, ending nine years of NDP rule

What happened

British Columbia's Conservatives won a majority in the provincial election of Saturday 24 October, CTV News projected, ending nine years of New Democratic Party government. ^[2]

Elections BC's preliminary count, as of 01:49 Pacific time on Sunday 25 October, had the Conservatives leading in 64 of 93 ridings, the NDP in 27 and the Greens in 2. The Conservatives held 48.05 percent of the votes counted and the NDP 37.38 percent, with 99.57 percent of ballot boxes reporting. ^{[1, 2]}

Premier David Eby, who called the vote two years early, said 'I accept full responsibility for that outcome' and resigned as party leader, CTV reported. Interim Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson is premier designate. ^[2]

Why it matters

The new government ran on more resource output. Its plan aims to triple liquefied natural gas production by 2035, CTV News reported. Its costed platform counts on gas production 15 percent above earlier forecasts by 2029 to 2030, the Canadian Press reported. ^{[4, 3]}

What the platform says

The platform calls mining, energy and agriculture fundamental to the province and promises to cut red tape and speed up permits, the Canadian Press reported. It would charge no provincial sales tax on major projects until they start operating. ^[3]

The energy platform pledges to remove B.C.'s industrial carbon tax and replace it with rules meant to keep gas exports competitive with the United States and Qatar, The Narwhal reported. It also promises to 'end emissions limits that are currently stopping further investment in B.C.', CTV reported. ^{[5, 4]}

In his victory speech Doerkson promised to 'cut red tape like it has never been cut before' and to double LNG production, CTV reported. The NDP had said during the campaign that five LNG projects in development were already on track to more than triple output by 2035, The Narwhal reported. ^{[2, 5]}

A separate event at a copper mine

In a labour dispute unrelated to the vote, Teck Resources said on Saturday 24 October that United Steelworkers Local 7619 had begun a strike at its Highland Valley Copper operations in British Columbia. Teck said operations continue at reduced capacity and the effect on production will depend on how long the strike lasts. ^[6]

The collective agreement ended on Wednesday 30 September, Teck said when it received strike notice on Wednesday 21 October. ^{[7, 8]}

What settles it next

Elections BC lists the final count for Friday 6 November, when mail and absentee ballots are counted, it says. Teck is scheduled to release its third quarter results on Thursday 29 October, its news page says. ^{[1, 9]}

Who it reaches

Teck Resources (TECK) is direct: the strike is at its Highland Valley Copper operations. Shell (SHEL) is adjacent: it holds 40 percent of LNG Canada at Kitimat, whose second phase it said will double capacity to 28 million tonnes a year. ^{[6, 10]}

TC Energy (TRP) is adjacent: it lists among its operations Coastal GasLink, the 670 kilometre pipeline that carries gas to LNG Canada. Shell said the pipeline will add five compressor stations for the second phase. ^{[11, 10]}