BC NDP win two By-Elections: Provincial Election only a year away

Yesterday, two British Columbia electoral districts held by-elections to replace Iain Black and Barry Penner, the former Liberal MLAs for Port Moody-Coquitlam and Chilliwack-Hope, respectively. Both men stepped down last year to pursue careers in the private sector.  All of BC will head to the polls next May for a provincial election. The Liberals, led by Christy Clark (who won her seat in a by-election last year), currently hold a majority government, but currently trail the Opposition NDP in the polls.

The NDP, led by Adrian Dix, won both by-elections yesterday.Former Port Moody mayor Joe Trasolini and Fraser Valley health activist Gwen O’Mahony will both join the Legislature in Victoria as the MLAs for Port Moody-Coquitlam and Chilliwack-Hope, respectively. Liberal candidates finished second in both races, Conservative candidates finished third.

Here are the complete results, as reported by the Vancouver Sun:

Port Moody-Coquitlam

Joe Trasolini (NDP) – 54%

Dennis Marsden (Liberal) – 30%

Christine Clarke (Conservative) – 16%

Chilliwack-Hope:

Gwen O’Mahony (NDP) – 41%

Laurie Throness (Liberal) – 32%

John Martin (Conservative) – 26%

These results mean the legislature now has 46 Liberal MLAs, 36 NDP and three independents. No information has been released yet regarding voter turnout for these by-elections; in the 2009 election, turnout for both ridings was above fifty percent.

In the 2009 BC Student Vote, Gwen O’Mahoney was elected by Chilliwack-Hope students by a one vote margin.  In Port Moody-Coquitlam‘s Student Vote, Liberal Iain Black won with more than 40 per cent of the popular vote. For full 2009 Student Vote results, click here.

As next year’s provincial election approaches, keep checking back to our blog to stay up-to-date with BC election news!

Dan

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