B.C. NDP Ministers Acknowledge Snap Election Mistake as Party Confronts Major Defeat and Leadership Change

Subhadarshi Tripathy

11/2/20265 min read

Two prominent members of British Columbia's outgoing NDP government have publicly acknowledged the party's decision to call a snap election was a serious political mistake, following a defeat that ended nearly a decade of New Democratic government in the province.

Former attorney general Niki Sharma and outgoing forests minister Ravi Parmar expressed frustration over the October 24 election results as the party's reduced caucus gathered at the B.C. legislature in Victoria to discuss its future.

The election, called more than two years ahead of schedule by outgoing Premier David Eby, resulted in the B.C. Conservatives securing a substantial majority under leader Lorne Doerkson.

According to preliminary Elections BC figures, the Conservatives secured 63 of the legislature's 93 seats, while the NDP's representation fell from 47 seats to 28.

The defeat prompted Eby to announce his resignation as party leader on election night, leaving the New Democrats facing both a leadership transition and the challenge of rebuilding public support.

Sharma and Parmar have not ruled out seeking the party's permanent leadership, although neither has formally announced an intention to run.

Eby Apologizes to Caucus for Early Election Decision

Sharma confirmed that Eby apologized to members of the outgoing NDP caucus during an emotional meeting held Wednesday, October 28.

According to Sharma, the outgoing premier acknowledged responsibility for calling the snap election, which ultimately resulted in the party losing government.

She described the meeting as a difficult occasion for members who had worked together in government but would no longer be returning to the legislature.

Several experienced NDP MLAs lost their seats during the election, significantly reducing the party's legislative representation.

Sharma said the gathering provided an opportunity to reflect on the defeat and recognize the contributions of departing colleagues.

She acknowledged that the results were difficult to accept but emphasized the need for the remaining members to concentrate on their new responsibilities.

The NDP will now serve as British Columbia's Official Opposition, tasked with scrutinizing the incoming Conservative government's decisions and representing the interests of its constituents.

Sharma said the party needed to move beyond the immediate disappointment and determine how best to carry out that role.

Ravi Parmar Says NDP Owes British Columbians an Apology

Parmar offered a similarly critical assessment of the election decision, saying the party had misjudged the consequences of going to the polls early.

The outgoing forests minister acknowledged that caucus members supported Eby's decision at the time, but that the outcome demonstrated the strategy had not succeeded.

"We got it wrong," Parmar said, arguing that the party owed British Columbians an apology.

He expressed particular concern for residents who may be worried about how the change in government could affect services and policies important to them.

Parmar also made clear the depth of his frustration.

When asked to rate his disappointment over the decision to call the election, he placed it at approximately 10 out of 10.

However, he said the party could not afford to remain consumed by frustration throughout the next legislative term.

He emphasized that New Democrats would need to redirect their attention toward representing their constituents and preparing for the challenges of serving in Opposition.

Neither Parmar nor Sharma disclosed whether members of caucus had objected to Eby's decision before the election was called.

Both cited the confidentiality of internal caucus discussions.

Election Defeat Reshapes British Columbia's Political Landscape

The October 24 election produced a significant change in the provincial legislature.

Before the vote, the NDP held a narrow majority with 47 MLAs. Following the preliminary count, its representation had declined by 19 seats.

The Conservatives, meanwhile, increased their seat total to 63, securing more than two-thirds of the legislature.

The B.C. Greens retained two seats.

The result means the Conservatives will form the next provincial government, while the NDP will move into Opposition after governing British Columbia since 2017.

Eby's decision to call the election had already attracted criticism because of its timing.

The campaign overlapped with British Columbia's municipal elections on October 17, creating simultaneous contests for provincial and local government positions.

Some candidates and political observers raised concerns about voter confusion and the effect of the overlapping schedules on participation.

Preliminary figures also showed provincial voter turnout falling to approximately 48 per cent, a historically low level for British Columbia.

Although the causes of the defeat remain a subject of political debate, senior NDP figures now acknowledge that the decision to seek an early mandate did not produce the result the party had anticipated.

Sharma and Parmar Leave Open Possibility of Leadership Bids

The election defeat has also created uncertainty about who will permanently lead the NDP through its next chapter.

Both Sharma and Parmar have declined to rule themselves out of a future leadership contest.

Sharma said she was not interested in becoming interim leader, but did not provide a definitive answer about whether she might pursue the permanent position.

She emphasized that her immediate focus was on the party's collective future rather than individual political ambitions.

Parmar similarly described it as too early to decide whether he would enter a leadership race.

He said he was looking forward to spending more time with his family and constituents following the conclusion of his ministerial responsibilities.

The leadership question has become central to the NDP's rebuilding process, particularly as the party considers how to respond to its election defeat and reconnect with voters.

Jennifer Whiteside Selected to Lead NDP During Transition

Following the October 29 caucus meeting, the B.C. NDP selected Jennifer Whiteside as its interim leader, with unanimous support from the incoming caucus.

Whiteside, the outgoing labour minister and MLA-elect for New Westminster-Coquitlam, will guide the party through the transition to Opposition while a permanent leadership process is developed.

She previously served as minister of education and minister of mental health and addictions.

The caucus also selected veteran MLA Mike Farnworth as house leader and Sharma as caucus chair.

Whiteside acknowledged that British Columbians had delivered an important message through the election results and said the party needed to listen and learn from the outcome.

Her appointment provides the NDP with an interim leadership structure while members consider the party's long-term direction.

The decision also allows the reduced caucus to begin organizing its legislative responsibilities ahead of the next sitting.

NDP Faces Challenge of Rebuilding Public Confidence

With the Conservatives preparing to take office, the New Democrats face a substantial political transition.

The party must adapt from governing with a legislative majority to holding the incoming government accountable from the Opposition benches.

It must also determine how to address the loss of voter support, review the decisions surrounding the snap election and establish a permanent leadership team.

For Sharma and Parmar, the immediate challenge is balancing disappointment over the election result with the responsibilities that remain.

Both have acknowledged that the party's decision carried significant consequences, while emphasizing the need to focus on the work ahead.

As the NDP begins assessing its defeat, the selection of new leadership and the development of its Opposition strategy will shape its efforts to regain public confidence.

The preliminary election results remain subject to Elections BC's final count, scheduled for November 6 to 10, but the scale of the NDP's defeat has already prompted an unusually candid internal reckoning over the decisions that brought the party to this point.

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