More than a week after the people of British Columbia voted, the governing NDP has narrowly prevailed yesterday although it remains unclear if they will have a one seat majority or form a minority government with the Green Party. Either way NDP Premier David Eby has a little margin for error.
I will give B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad and his party for one thing. They reject election denialism. I just hope this view continues to prevail among right-wing political parties in Canada should Donald Trump be re-elected next week. Authoritarianism and authoritarian sentiments have a way of spreading.
Meanwhile, more than 1,100 miles east in Saskatchewan, the NDP fell short as the conservative Saskatchewan Party won its fifth consecutive majority government last night and second straight for Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. However, the NDP acquitted itself well. While the Saskatchewan is leading and elected in 35 seats, the NDP is leading and elected in 26 seats under new leader Carla Beck. The Saskatchewan Party dominated in rural ridings while the NDP's strength came almost exclusively in Saskatchewan's two largest cities - Regina and Saskatoon.
Canadian political junkies not satiated with three provincial elections in Saskatchewan, B.C. and in New Brunswick will get a fourth when voters in Nova Scotia go to the polls on November 26th. In a shocking move on Sunday, Nova Scotia's Tory Premier Tim Houston called a snap election only three years into his mandate amid promises of a fixed election next year. It will be interesting to see if Nova Scotia voters punish Houston for his gambit or if he is counting on the opposition vote between the Liberals, NDP and Green Party to be sufficiently divided to give the Tories another term in office.
Watching election returns in Canada's provinces is, at least for the time being, infinitely more relaxing than watching our own elections.
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