Greens bloom through election with three seats, first in Lower Mainland

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The BC Green Party has managed to do just as well as in the election as it did last time, winning three seats with a fresh leader, and its first seat in the Lower Mainland.

While the final results still need to be tallied with record-breaking mail-in ballots this election, the Greens won as many seats as they did last time. Party leader Sonia Furstenau won her riding again in Cowichan Valley. Jeremy Valeriote secured the West Vancouver-Sea to Sky riding, the first time the Greens have moved off Vancouver Island, and Adam Olsen – who had been the interim leader after Andrew Weaver stepped down — took Saanich North and the Islands.

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This was the first win for the Greens in the Lower Mainland, though, they did lose the seat former party leader Weaver once held in Oak Bay Gordon Head to the NDP.

“I think it’s an indication that we are no longer limited just to Vancouver Island, where we’ve been strong, but that people around the province are recognizing that the Greens are offering a very, very important alternative to the kind of politics of the other two parties,” Furstenau says.

“We are growing, we are showing British Columbians, and connecting with British Columbians everywhere, and they are recognizing that the future is very green in this province.”

Watch: Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau full speech following the election

While the NDP seems to have won the majority, Fuerstenau says the Greens voted in will continue to hold the government accountable.

“There are still many votes to be counted, but we are seeing incredible successes where we haven’t before,” she says.

“For everyone who voted for hope and cast a vote for our party, I take your trust and faith in me and our party very seriously and I promise to serve you dutifully in the Legislature.”

UPDATE: Looks like the @BCGreens will stick with three seats tonight. Close race in Nelson-Creston but Brittney Anderson has won, keeping the riding @bcndp. @NEWS1130 #BCvotes2020 #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/ELUn1P52Yz

— Monika Gul (@MonikaGul) October 25, 2020

Fuerstenau set her self apart from the NDP and Liberals during the one and only televised debate, most notably for her answer to a question on how each leader reckoned with their white privilege.

She had also only been the party leader for about a week before the election was called.

The snap election, which was called a year before the set date, also brought an end to an agreement between the Greens and NDP and came shortly after Furstenau became the new party leader.

In 2017, the Green Party won a record three seats in the Legislature and held the balance of power. It was only thanks to the Greens that the NDP’s John Horgan was able to become premier as the two parties signed a Confidence and Supply Agreement.

The Greens got official party status after the 2017 election, which they may lose after this election if they don’t win at least two seats.