B.C. NDP keeps its seats in 2 provincial byelections

Voters in British Columbia decided to keep the B.C. NDP as their representatives in two byelections held on Saturday. 

On Vancouver Island, Ravi Parmar won former New Democrat premier John Horgan's riding, Langford-Juan de Fuca, with 53 per cent of the popular vote. 

Horgan had held the Langford riding since 2005.

The former premier was celebrating with Parmar at his campaign headquarters victory celebration Saturday night, where he took pleasure in posting the election results on a chalkboard at the front of the room.

'He's the new generation'

Horgan said he had known Parmar since the 28-year-old was in Grade 5 and had invited him to speak in his grade school class. 

"I'm really confident that Ravi has been connecting with people," Horgan said. "He's the new generation out here in my community." 

The B.C. NDP says Parmar, a trustee in the Sooke School District and chair of the Sooke School Board, is the youngest MLA elected in the current B.C. Legislature.

'My whole life has been activism'

In Vancouver, Joan Phillip won former NDP cabinet minister Melanie Mark's riding of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant with 68 per cent of the vote. Mark was first elected in 2016.

In a written statement, the party said Phillip is "a respected Indigenous leader who has dedicated her life to fighting for justice, human rights and the environment" with "extensive experience in community development and Indigenous affairs."  

"My whole life has been activism," Phillip told CBC News earlier in the day.

"I've been bringing diverse people together in order to solve problems, and that's what I want to bring to the table."

Her past work experience includes youth counsellor at Britannia school, program director at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre and lands manager for the Penticton First Nation.

The B.C. NDP says Phillip has been married to Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, the long-serving president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, for nearly 40 years.

Phillip said despite the diversity of her riding, the main issues she heard from all constituents were the same: affordability, the housing crisis and health care. 

Both ridings had been vacant since late March, following the departures from the legislature of former premier John Horgan and cabinet minister Melanie Mark.

The Conservative Party of B.C., who did not run candidates in either riding in the 2020 provincial election, placed second in Langford-Juan de Fuca, with local realtor Mike Harris receiving almost 20 per cent of the vote. The Conservatives finished a distant fourth in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant.