Skip to content

EDITORIAL: Minor differences

By the looks of things, we are getting a minority government, most likely with the Liberals and NDP making peace and making policy.
Wilkinson
Jonathan Wilkinson and his wife Tara celebrate his re-election in the North Vancouver riding. photo Paul McGrath, North Shore News

By the looks of things, we are getting a minority government, most likely with the Liberals and NDP making peace and making policy.

Here on the North Shore, we’ve opted for the status quo as parties go, but added a new face in Patrick Weiler in West Vancouver. Weiler didn’t enjoy the landslide victory his predecessor did but Conservatives barely budged from their lacklustre results in 2015.

North Vancouver has long been looked to as a Conservative/Liberal swing riding and bellwether but while the Tories grew their vote nationally, their North Van candidate was only able to pick up an extra one per cent locally. It may be North Van is becoming one of those safe, urban seats the Liberals can count on.

In Burnaby North-Seymour, Heather Leung got almost 20 per cent of the vote despite being ostensibly dumped by the Conservatives over her homophobia, which we are flummoxed by. And much was made of the Trans Mountain pipeline in the local campaigns but if we are reading the ballots correctly, it appears we want our pipelines and our carbon taxes too.

The lifespan of a minority government is anyone’s guess but we suspect there is enough common ground between the Liberals and NDP that they can keep themselves busy for a year or two. And we don’t predict any of the parties, who are now exhausted and broke, are eager to sprint back into an election. The Bloc is back — an all-party spoiler that will make it difficult for any party to form a majority.

So, for the time being, North Shore voters can rest assured they will have a voice in government, even it’s not quite the one they had in mind on Oct. 21.

What are your thoughts? Send us a letter via email by clicking here or post a comment below.