Liberals score shock win in British Columbia polls
Liberals' premier Christy Clark pulls off an amazing election victory that contradicts the surveys which showed her heading for defeat
British Columbia's centre-right premier Christy Clark has scored a stunning election victory, contradicting every poll to trounce the opposition New Democratic Party and silence critics of her Liberal Party's pro-business agenda.
The ruling Liberals were leading or had won 50 of the province's 85 electoral areas, Elections BC was reporting yesterday. The opposition NDP led by Adrian Dix was leading in 33 seats, according to preliminary results. Clark was in a tight race to win her own electorate in Vancouver.
Dix, 49, was hot favourite to win the election, and had vowed to block plans by Enbridge and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners to expand oil shipments from Alberta through British Colombia, Canada's western-most province. Clark didn't rule out increased oil shipments, while imposing five conditions on the projects.
"Well, that was easy," Clark joked in her victory speech. "I say to the citizens of British Columbia you have humbled us tonight with this opportunity," she said.
Hong Kong-born media executive Teresa Wat will be joining the Liberal ranks in parliament, after winning the Richmond Centre electorate that had been held by a retiring Liberal colleague. Fellow Hong Kong immigrant Jenny Wai Ching-kwan won re-election for the NDP in Vancouver Mount Pleasant.