Oct 27 - Today's ballots could reshape election— again

Good morning !

After a few days' reprieve, we're back to provincial election coverage this weekend as the final ballots are counted. Read the latest update below, and expect more on Monday and Tuesday.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 12 / 8

Tomorrow: 🌧 13 / 4

Tuesday: ☁️ 11 / 6

7-day forecast

NEWS

Vote count continues as Westshore and Surrey shifts put NDP majority back on table

This weekend, Elections BC is adding uncounted ballots all across BC while also conducting recounts in two ridings including local Juan de Fuca – Malahat. There, the NDP's Dana Lajeunesse widened his 23-vote lead over Marina Sapozhnikov to 106 as of a Saturday afternoon update. 

NDP could take all 3 of last weekend's closest ridings 

That update also showed the NDP increasing its lead in Surrey City Centre (the other automatic-recount riding) and narrowing the Conservatives’ lead in nearby Surrey – Guildford from 103 to just 12. Flipping that riding could bring the NDP to a 47-seat majority, allowing the NDP to maintain power without relying on Green support. However, the need to nominate a Speaker (who votes only in tiebreakers and has a largely nonpartisan role) would limit the NDP's ability to pass legislation that both the Conservatives and Greens object to. 

How many votes are still being counted? 

Before the weekend, Elections BC announced that there were some 65,000 votes remaining to be tallied—more than initial projections of about 49,000. This remains a small percentage of overall votes. On one hand, more remaining votes create more of a numerical possibility that a riding could flip—but on the other hand, the larger the sample the more likely it is to resemble to overall riding’s existing vote shares (i.e a fairly even race).

Which types of votes are still being counted?

These votes include mail-in ballots that were dropped off or that arrived by mail in the final few days, after advanced polls closed; votes cast on election day from stations outside the voter's district; and votes cast in the right district but not at the assigned station. Final count ballots are also subjected to additional election-integrity steps, Elections BC says, to make sure each person was eligible to vote and only voted once. 

Which ridings are in play? 

JDF–Malahat and Surrey CC are adding their final ballots while also being fully recounted by hand, due to election-night margins within the auto-recount threshold. Surrey–Guildford narrowly avoided an auto-recount, but could go to a judicial recount, overseen by the BC Supreme Court, if its final result falls within the threshold (which is 1/500th of total votes). 

Courtenay–Comox, also a close race, has been halved to a 116-vote Conservative lead. The Conservative lead in Kelowna Centre (which will get a hand-recount of a single tabulator machine) has also been halved, to 72.

The JDF–Malahat recount is to begin today and end tomorrow. Read more about the recounts, final votes, rules, and timing at Elections BC.

Furstenau will remain Green leader as party eyes tiebreaking role

Sonia Furstenau will stay on as leader, the party announced on Tuesday, despite her loss after switching ridings to NDP stronghold Victoria–Beacon Hill. She and former peninsula MLA Adam Olsen will continue to support the two first-time Green MLAs: Rob Botterell, who held Olsen's seat, and Jeremy Valeriote, who broke through on his third try in Vancouver — Sea to Sky. 

David Eby said this past week that his NDP would likely need support to govern, but said Furstenau told him the Green party is not ready for specific deal talks until the final vote settles.

Greens have talked to NDP, but not Conservatives

Furstenau said she didn't take John Rustad's calls, not recognizing the number, and criticized him for lacking a “satisfactory response” on some of his candidates’ offensive or conspiratorial comments.

Furstenau also said this week that “no party deserves all the power” and that BC's vote had shown the public lacks full confidence in either major party. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

40% chance of showers today. 30% tomorrow & Wednesday.

Wind warning has ended.

Royals lose 4-5 in shootout vs Prince George, but remain 2nd in WHL.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Esquimalt First Nation seeks more capacity to handle wastewater

The Esquimalt First Nation is currently facing significant challenges around wastewater capacity. Its request to add more, which would allow for more development in the community, was highlighted in recent board discussions about the Capital Regional District’s (CRD) updated wastewater management plan.

Esquimalt FN has petitioned to increase its allocation from 70,000 to 140,000 litres per day at the McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant. For comparison, Langford uses 14 million litres per day and Colwood uses 4.7 million.

Despite representing only 0.06% of the total treatment capacity at McLoughlin, the community's capacity challenge reflects an infrastructure gap that the First Nations Financial Management board has said is a common experience of Indigenous communities. The board says government policies often fail to address the evolving infrastructure requirements of Indigenous communities. This ends up limiting economic development and housing opportunities on reserve land.

The requested capacity increase could cost the Nation as much as $210,000. The CRD has encouraged other local municipalities to voluntarily reallocate some of their wastewater capacity to support Esquimalt FN, saving it some of that cost. The deadline for municipalities to respond was Friday (Oct. 25).

Keep reading at The Westshore.

Also in The Westshore for Thursday: Stolen dinosaur statue saga, Hwy 14 reopening, a soccer finale, and more.

⭐️ Capital Picks

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👹 A very Halloween-y fish was found near Metchosin. [Facebook photo]

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🗞️ In Other News

Get rabbits vaccinated before it's too late, advocacy society says
A deadly hemorrhagic disease has been detected in the nearby San Juan Islands. There will be a bunny clinic today in Nanaimo. [Nanaimo News Now]

2 southwest-Island lighthouses have now been de-staffed
On Friday the federal government followed through with its plan to automate the two stations, citing seismic concerns. The keepers were transferred, but their union umaintains that the lack of consultation was wrong. The federal NDP tried last week to keep the stations staffed, citing safety issues along the coastline. [CHEK]

Night Light Walk raises $30k to help those fleeing domestic violence 
On Thursday the second annual 3k walk at Esquimalt Gorge Park was held to benefit the Cridge Centre for the Family. [Saanich News]

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🗓️ Things to do

🧁Thrifty Foods Wicked Victoria on Government between Yates & Broughton. A wicked good time with 50+ local vendors, live music, 800 free cupcakes, goodie bags, kid zone with balloons, face painting, crafts, & more. [11am-3pm]

💀 Dia de los Muertos at Odd Fellows is billed as an authentic experience of the Mexican Day of the Dead. Nov. 2. 

🛍 Victoria Halloween market showcase of handmade vendors—from the spooky to the sweet—at the Da Vinci Centre. [Info]

🎃 Halloween at Bilston Creek Farm: Visit the Metchosin farm for pumpkin decorating, games, sweet treats, a treasure hunt. 11am-5pm. [Info]

🧙 Halloween Stories & Scavenger Hunt: A fun, family-friendly tale of past and present Halloween traditions at Merridale Cidery & Distillery. 12-2pm. [Info]

Want more weekend events? Check out our recent edition of This Week in Vic. Subscribe for weekly events in your inbox every Tuesday!

👀 In Case You Missed It

73 more Islanders die of toxic drug poisonings. [Friday newsletter]

Record number of women elected to BC Legislature. [Capital Daily]

Where to see salmon runs on the Island this fall. [Capital Daily]

Spooky birds: Ominous-looking vultures sit in a tree with an eagle in Goldstream Park. [Facebook photo]

Surprise Halloween books in Little Free Libraries. [Info]