BC Political Discussion: Election 2020 and Beyond

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by csbvan

It's because they were expected to be wiped out, as the junior player propping up a minority. Instead, they mostly held their vote and even won a seat from the hapless Liberals. While the NDP still took a seat from them, they were able to take a seat from the Liberals. The NDP won, the Greens held their own, the Liberals were devoured from all sides. Given the expectations, that is a good result for the Greens. Their 3 seat caucus was probably saved due to Furstenau's solid performance.

BC Greens 2017 - 16.83%
BC Greens 2020 - 15.3%

Hardly a stellar, groundbreaking result.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by whatnext

BC Greens 2017 - 16.83%
BC Greens 2020 - 15.3%

Hardly a stellar, groundbreaking result.

That may be how the proportions are now, but they may change in a couple of weeks. As the party was caught out by the snap announcement, they didn't run in every riding, so it's not significantly different.

[Migrant_Coconut]

The Greens were expected to lose all their seats. Instead, they took one from the Liberals. I'd count that as a win.

It'll be interesting to see how things change. If the Liberal Party doesn't get itself together, I'm guessing we'll see a migration of the centre-right Libs to the NDP (and then far-left Dippers to the Greens)?

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by whatnext

BC Greens 2017 - 16.83%
BC Greens 2020 - 15.3%

Hardly a stellar, groundbreaking result.

I didn't say groundbreaking, I was saying that they held their ground. Given they had a new leader weeks before the election, and were the junior partner in a coalition, that is a good result.

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

The Greens were expected to lose all their seats. Instead, they took one from the Liberals. I'd count that as a win.

It'll be interesting to see how things change. If the Liberal Party doesn't get itself together, I'm guessing we'll see a migration of the centre-right Libs to the NDP (and then far-left Dippers to the Greens)?

That'll be very interesting indeed. An NDP that caters to centre-right will sure be unthinkable to an Ontarian* mind like mine.
* I've actually spent more time in Ontario than in B.C. now.

[zahav]

If the NDP can keep the economy going, while supporting big projects, and placate labour unions, they will undoubtedly be the party of choice. Apparently they kept 79% of their first term election promises, which is solid. I gave them one term to change my mind on if they could govern and I did change my mind, I wanted them to win this election. If they can keep the same pace, the Liberals will have a tough road ahead. They need to clear out the dinosaurs, no more Laurie Throness' or Margaret Kunsts. And get a leader with an ounce of charisma, because at this rate the only way they will win government again is if the NDP really s**ts the bed

[ecbin]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

Well I was wrong. I was against the PST change and removal of some taxes. I guess many saw the light in thay regards.

AW is perhaps the worst provincial candidate we have seen in our lifetime. A guy that cannot be relateable and has a seemingly smug arrogant vibe to him. The liberals need to go younger and modernize and kick all these dinosaurs to the curb.

Considering the demographics of BC Liberal supporters they're damned if they do and damned if they don't. Going younger and modernizing means moving left which opens the door for another Conservative party. Staying where they are means being out of touch and near permanent opposition status.

The alliance of social and fiscal conservatives is crumbling - neither group by themselves is big enough to hold power and downsides of being tied together are increasingly worse than the upside of being together.

[s211]

Originally Posted by whatnext

One thing I don’t get is why the media is painting the Greens performance as some sort of great achievement.

Because "being green" is fashionable these days, an affectation to many.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by bluefox

[*]Looks like a surge of Green support on the mainland (albeit in some areas) got missed or was unexpected. Even though they did well in Sea to Sky, Nelson-Creston, Vernon-Monashee, etc. last time, I was very surprised to see how competitive they were in those areas, let alone winning a seat over here. Good for them as they try to move on from the Weaver era.

The Green vote could easily be BC Libs parking their votes elsewhere, not able to bring themselves to support a terrible leader who ran a garbage campaign.

[WarrenC12]

The Greens just lost their popular leader, who inexplicably began supporting the NDP. They were by far the least prepared for an election, and getting hamstrung by their own guy (Weaver).

Keeping 3 seats and roughly the same popular vote was a huge win for them.

[canucklehead2]

As a lifelong Albertan and lifelong New Democrat, I am VERY happy the BC NDP were elected. Anyone even remotely near the left these days is welcome in face of trendy ultra fascism that has swept and doomed the world... Now I just want more cooperative projects between both sides of the rockies like an integrated green power grid. Aka use BC Hydro to shut down the Alberta coal plants NOW!

[rofina]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

for those who voted, how many candidates/options were on your ballot?

in my riding, we had three choices, NDP, Liberal or Greens. It seems some ridings had Conservative candidates running but not in every riding. And it looked like some areas only had two choices.

5. Also had libertarian party on I believe.

[rofina]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Yeah, weren't we all expecting the Greens to go extinct again without Weaver in charge?

I certainly was - I thought Andrew Weaver was the Green party. For them to win Sea to Sky, wow. This gives them time to continue to grow on BC voters and expand the base. Wasn't expecting that myself.

[rofina]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

The Greens were expected to lose all their seats. Instead, they took one from the Liberals. I'd count that as a win.

It'll be interesting to see how things change. If the Liberal Party doesn't get itself together, I'm guessing we'll see a migration of the centre-right Libs to the NDP (and then far-left Dippers to the Greens)?

I would place my self center right. Political compass has me near dead center, leaning towards fiscal conservative. That being said, I already made the choice to vote for Horgan in 2017, and again this year. The Liberals have lost their way and worse were ok maintaining some candidates that shouldn't have been a part of the party. Further, they made a mockery of the electorate under C.Clark.

"Families First" slogan she ran on was such a joke - unaffordable housing and no day care, long commutes to match, great way to be family first Liberals.

I'm unmarried with no kids, but the mismanagement was too brutal to see.

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by s211

Because "being green" is fashionable these days, an affectation to many.

Being "financially responsible" is fashionable these days, an affectation to many.

That's how this sounds. It's insulting to insinuate that caring deeply about the environment and humans' impact on the biosphere and climate is a fad.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

The Greens were expected to lose all their seats. Instead, they took one from the Liberals. I'd count that as a win.

It'll be interesting to see how things change. If the Liberal Party doesn't get itself together, I'm guessing we'll see a migration of the centre-right Libs to the NDP (and then far-left Dippers to the Greens)?

Where were they expected to lose all 3 seats?

I'm just surprised anybody paints this as a big win for the Greens.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Where were they expected to lose all 3 seats?

I'm just surprised anybody paints this as a big win for the Greens.

How about the part where an election was called that nobody was prepared for (and one where the Liberals aren't in charge), or where their "irreplaceable" leader stepped down and endorsed the Dippers, or when a far-left nobody replaced him? 2017 could be seen as a protest vote; now, it looks like the Greens have an actual base.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

How about the part where an election was called that nobody was prepared for (and one where the Liberals aren't in charge), or where their "irreplaceable" leader stepped down and endorsed the Dippers, or when a far-left nobody replaced him? 2017 could be seen as a protest vote; now, it looks like the Greens have an actual base.

And they're proving that it is a unique base. On Vancouver Island, they fight the NDP on the left. In Metro Vancouver, they present an alternative to both parties for wealthier, historically Liberal voters (West Van). In some ways, that is similar to their base in Civic elections in Vancouver.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

How about the part where an election was called that nobody was prepared for (and one where the Liberals aren't in charge), or where their "irreplaceable" leader stepped down and endorsed the Dippers, or when a far-left nobody replaced him? 2017 could be seen as a protest vote; now, it looks like the Greens have an actual base.

West Van-Sea to Sky is their first non-Island riding provincially or federally, isn't it? It's a big get for a party that's had trouble getting traction on the lower mainland.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by JHikka

West Van-Sea to Sky is their first non-Island riding provincially or federally, isn't it? It's a big get for a party that's had trouble getting traction on the lower mainland.

Correct. And the BC Greens didn't have seats at all until 2011.