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British Columbia’s New Democratic Party caucus gathered at the provincial legislature on Thursday to begin the process of selecting an interim leader, following a crushing defeat in the weekend provincial election.
Caucus Shrinks After Election Loss
The NDP entered Saturday’s vote with 47 seats. However, the party emerged with only 28 seats, a significant reduction that reflects the scale of the defeat. Meanwhile, the BC Conservatives secured a dominant two-thirds majority, winning 63 seats in the legislature.
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Outgoing Premier David Eby announced his resignation as party leader during his election-night concession speech. It remains unclear whether Eby will attend Thursday’s caucus meeting. The NDP caucus had already held an online meeting on Wednesday ahead of the in-person session.
Party Faces Credibility Challenge
MLA-elect Niki Sharma was expected to speak to reporters before Thursday morning’s meeting got underway.
Geoff Meggs, who served as chief of staff to the late former NDP Premier John Horgan, says the next leader faces a serious challenge. He describes it as a “reputational challenge” of proving the party can be trusted with taxpayers’ money.
Meggs pointed to a stark financial contrast between the two NDP administrations. When Horgan stepped aside in 2022, he left Eby a $5.7-billion surplus. Under Eby’s government, that surplus turned into a record deficit now forecast to reach $14 billion this year.
Voters Want Fiscal Balance, Meggs Says
In a Wednesday interview, Meggs said voters want to see public services protected. At the same time, he stressed that British Columbians also want a more balanced approach to government spending.
The NDP’s next interim leader will therefore need to address both concerns. Rebuilding public trust on fiscal management will likely be central to the party’s path forward in opposition.
