Provincial by-elections in BC tomorrow!

[mileslunn]

I would say it was a great night for the NDP.  Not only did the win the normally BC Liberal friendly riding of Port Moody-Coquitlam, but won with over 50%.  Also while there win in Chilliwack-Hope was partly due to vote splitting on the right, they still got over 40% which is quite unusual for this riding.  After all even in 1991 and 1996, this did not go NDP when you had the same issue. 

For the BC Liberals a bad night, but the fact they came in second in both ridings including Chilliwack-Hope, at least allows them to make the claim that for voters who want a pro-free enterprise government, they are the party.

For the BC Conservatives, they did poorly as expected in Port Moody-Coquitlam (I should note this riding did go Conservative federally though) and the fact they came in third in Chilliwack-Hope must certainly be a disappointment.  The reality is they are simply too right wing for BC.  You can be centre-right like the BC Liberals or federal Conservatives and win in BC, but not hard right.  It might work in Alberta, although Danielle Smith is a much more telegenic leader than John Cummins so even if they share a similiar political philosophy, I think Smith is far more electable, never mind Alberta is a more conservative province to begin with. 

[mileslunn]

pro-free enterprise

I hate that term. The NDP is still pro-free enterprise. The correct term is "right wing" to describe the Liberals+Conservatives.

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Again, Chilliwack-Hope isn't the best riding for the BC Conservatives. How many times do I have to cite the HST referendum?

Maybe pro free market is better.  I am not saying the NDP is anti-business, but they do tend to favour greater government intervention in the economy as supposed to less and they generally are against privatization and favour nationalization of some key sectors, although certainly not the whole economy.  By contrast the other two are pretty much against nationalization in all cases and favour privatization of some crown corporations. I agree Chilliwack-Hope is not the strongest Conservative riding, but I would definitely put it in the top 20 if not the top 10.  Maybe not the top 5, i.e. the two Abbotsford ridings, Langley ridings, other Chilliwack riding, Central Okanagan Valley and Peace River Country, I would rank as more favourable to them, but thats about it.  If you look at the Social Credit in 1991 and Reform Party in 1996, that is probably the best indicator where they should be strongest.  

[mileslunn]

I would agree.  Basically the 2 seats that went BC Reform Party in the worse case scenario to the 7 seats that went Social credit in 1991 in the best case scenario for the BC Conservatives.  I should note Chilliwack-Hope did not go BC Reform in 1996 and I don't think it went Social Credit in 1991 either.