British Columbia's new premier lucks into the job in unexpected political turn
Lorne Doerkson, who took over British Columbia's Conservatives only weeks ago, has led the party to its first provincial victory in nearly a century after a snap election gamble by the outgoing premier backfired.
Lorne Doerkson will become the new premier of British Columbia after his Conservatives won a majority in the provincial assembly, taking 64 of the 93 seats. It is the party's first victory in the province in nearly one hundred years.
The result is a major upset for outgoing premier David Eby, whose New Democratic Party called the snap election two years early in the hope of winning a bigger majority. Instead, the party fell to just 27 seats, while the Green Party won two. Eby resigned as his party's leader in his concession speech, saying he accepts full responsibility for the outcome.
Doerkson, 58, is a former rodeo announcer and newspaper publisher who was first elected to the provincial assembly in 2020. He became party leader only weeks ago, after his predecessor resigned in September amid an internal split that saw a third of the caucus quit. He learned his colleagues wanted him as leader while he was on a flight home from South Africa last month.
In his victory speech, Doerkson said British Columbians are hardworking people who want a fair shot at building something in the province. He has promised to cut red tape like never before by fast-tracking forestry and mining permits, and to triple natural gas production by 2035.
Reporting based on coverage from BBC News.