By R. Paul Dhillon
VANCOUVER – The BC NDP submitted formal requests to Elections BC Friday for recounts in Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, Vancouver-False Creek, and Richmond-Queensborough.
“With the election still undecided, we’re working hard to ensure every last vote is counted properly,” said BC NDP Provincial Director Raj Sihota. “In an election this close, British Columbians deserve to have full confidence in the results, and that means ensuring the ballots in close races are counted thoroughly and carefully.”
Liberal candidate in the Courtenay-Comox riding on Vancouver Island did the same, requesting an official recount after losing to the NDP candidate by nine votes in Tuesday’s provincial election.
Election BC’s Andrew Watson says a recount request has been received from Jim Benninger, who received 10,049 votes to 10,058 for the NDP’s Ronna-Rae Leonard.
Watson says in a news release that the recount will be conducted between May 22 and 24 as part of the final tally of ballots cast in the riding.
NDP’s Sihota notes that nearly 60% of British Columbians voted for parties that support fixing BC’s electoral system, getting big money out of politics, and fixing services like education and healthcare.
“Most British Columbians voted to get rid of Christy Clark and fix our political system,” said Sihota. “A majority of British Columbians voted for change, and we’ll do everything in our power in the days and weeks ahead to make that change a reality.”
The B.C. Liberal party won 43 seats, the NDP 41 and the Green party took three seats on Tuesday, but 176,000 absentee ballots are yet to be counted and there were several close races that could still change hands.
