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Editorial: Congratulations are obviously in order

Sitting on a mathematically certain blowout win, the NDP were careful on election night not to sound like they were taking the more than half a million uncounted votes for granted.
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Sitting on a mathematically certain blowout win, the NDP were careful on election night not to sound like they were taking the more than half a million uncounted votes for granted.

“I think I’m grateful for all British Columbians that we have put the election behind us,” Premier John Horgan said with scripted awkwardness. “Obviously there are a number of votes still to count, but I think I’m very, very pleased with the confidence I seem to have been trusted with,” said Powell River-Sunshine Coast incumbent Nicholas Simons. It was like they were channelling the same Partridge Family song: “I Think I Love You.” No doubt they were high-fiving the hell out of each other in their private bubbles.

And who wouldn’t? They did a bad-boy thing – calling a messy and frankly sneaky election during a pandemic – and they not only got away with it, they cleaned up. Based on the current standings, they held the Greens to three seats and cast them far outside the circle of power. They decimated the Liberals, driving them from Metro Vancouver into the deep boonies. And they took out the Liberal leader, who announced his resignation the next day. In the world of politics, these are big scores.

The final count is still to come but the writing’s on the wall, so congratulations are in order to John Horgan and the NDP on their historic win, and to Nicholas Simons, who will be starting his fifth term as MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast. Simons keeps getting re-elected for a reason, and it’s not just the party he represents. He’s widely regarded as approachable, thoughtful and dedicated. He’s a strong, steady voice in Victoria for Sunshine Coasters. He deserves a seat in the new NDP cabinet.

Congratulations also to Green candidate Kim Darwin, who is doing the right thing by waiting for the final count to concede the election, since one-third of the votes have to mean something. Darwin did well – she pulled way ahead of the Liberals and brought her party to within striking distance of the NDP. She’s become a seasoned campaigner and a first-rate debater. We hope to see her back to fight another day.

Liberal Sandra Stoddart-Hansen also deserves congratulations. Yes, she went down with the Liberal ship, but in the absurdly brief campaign she showed herself to be a woman of intelligence and integrity – and considerable political savvy in securing a $50-million commitment from her party for a bypass project that she believes in. All the stars were lined up against her, and she must have known that, but she took one for the team like a true professional.

It wasn’t an election we wanted, but we had three exemplary candidates and that speaks well for this riding.