British Columbia Conservative Leader John Rustad has been re-elected in his riding of Nechako Lakes.
Rustad was kicked out of the Opposition BC United Party for his support on social media of an outspoken climate change critic in 2022, and last year was acclaimed as the B.C. Conservative leader.
Buoyed by the BC United party suspending its campaign, and the popularity of Pierre Poilievre's federal Conservatives, Rustad led his party into contention in the provincial election.
Across the country, COVID-19, Trump fatigue and a famously polarized electorate have all but reduced the 2020 election to a referendum on a single issue: who is best equipped to lead people safely out of the pandemic.
In a brief statement today, Wilkinson says he's asked the party president to work with the executive to determine a timeline for the leadership process that will pick his successor.
Statistics from Elections BC going back to 1928 show the second lowest voter turnout was 55.14 per cent during the 2009 election.
With just under half the polls reporting results, the NDP were leading and elected in 54 seats. The B.C. Liberals were leading and elected in 30 and the Greens in three.
NDP Leader John Horgan dissolved his minority government a year before the province's fixed voting date and his decision to call a snap election emerged as a key issue in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
WATCH: Who will WIN the 2020 #BCElection ? Will BC NDP come back as a majority or BC Liberal Party gain ground ? We spoke to #UBC professor of political science Richard Johnston and his answers were surprising!