Judicial recount for Surrey-Guildford confirms B.C. NDP's majority
CTV
The B.C. New Democrats have a majority government of 47 seats after a judicial recount in the riding of Surrey-Guildford gave the party's candidate 22 more votes than the provincial Conservatives.
The British Columbia New Democrats have a majority government of 47 seats after a recount in the riding of Surrey-Guildford concluded with the party's candidate 22 votes ahead of his provincial Conservative rival.
Confirmation of victory for Premier David Eby’s party comes nearly three weeks after election night when no majority could be declared.
Garry Begg of the NDP had gone into the full hand recount on Thursday with a 27-vote lead, although British Columbia's chief electoral officer had said on Tuesday there were 28 unreported votes and those had reduced the margin to 21.
The recount overseen by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Kevin Loo has ended with Begg at 8,947 votes and the B.C. Conservatives' Honveer Singh Randhawa on 8,925.
A separate partial recount in Prince George-Mackenzie to tally 861 votes from an uncounted ballot box is also complete, confirming B.C. Conservative Kiel Giddens' victory by more than 6,000 votes.
The final recount in Kelowna Centre was the last to be reported, confirming B.C. Conservative Kristina Loewen is elected by just 40 votes over the New Democrats.
The Election Act says the deadline to appeal results after a judicial recount must be filed with the court within two days after they are declared, but Andrew Watson with Elections BC said that due to Remembrance Day on Monday, that period ends at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
