CourtenayComox heading to recount with 9-vote spread

New Democrats lose two seats to the Greens on Vancouver Island but appear to grab one from the Liberals in one of the tightest races of the night.

Vancouver Island gives Green Party 'historic' 3 seats in B.C. Legislature

Lisa Johnson CBC News Posted: May 10, 2017 12:05 AM EDT | Last Updated: May 10, 2017

The contenders for CourtenayComox: the NDP's Ronna-Rae Leonard, who leads by just nine votes over B.C. Liberal Jim Benninger. (B.C. NDP and B.C. Liberals)

In a very tight election, one Vancouver Island riding has all but assured the B.C. election results won't be known for certain for some time.

The NDP candidate in CourtenayComox, Ronna-Rae Leonard, has been declared the winner, taking the riding from the B.C. Liberals but by a margin of just nine votes.

"This is a really close race here," said Liberal candidate Jim Benninger, a former base commander of CFB Comox.

"I think we really just have to put a hold on this, and say we'll find out the real answer in two weeks, but I think with this really narrow margin it could go either way."

That slim of a margin would trigger an automatic judicial recount, but absentee ballots also need to be counted, which doesn't happen for nearly two weeks.

Folks, that 9 vote win for the NDP in Courtenay-Comox means we're guaranteed to have no result tonight.
—@j_mcelroy

'Historic' night for Greens

Meanwhile, the Green Party had a "historic" night, tripling its seat count, to three,with Adam Olsen winning in Saanich North and the Islands and Sonia Furstenau winning Cowichan Valley;both previously NDP seats.

Furstenau, a director for the Cowichan Regional District, gained prominence fighting the controversial soil dumping at Shawnigan Lake.

Greens ecstatic at likelihood of Adam Olson joining Andrew Weaver & holding breath for @SoniaFurstenau in close Cowichan race. #bcelxn17
—@GregorCraigie

In the 2013 election, Olsen finished third in his riding, but it was the tightest race in the province, with the Greens finishing less than 400 votes behind the NDP's Gary Holman. This year's election saw the same three candidates rematch.

"That's a surreal thing to hear," said Olsen as he was introduced as the winner on CBC Radio One's election special.

"I am so deeply honoured to have the support and the trust of the people of Saanich North and the Islands," said Olsen, adding he grew up in the riding and is now raising his children there.

"This is a hell of a day for the province of B.C. It's historic," said Matt Toner,deputy Green leader.

Adam Olsen, seen here at his election party earlier today in the Saanich North and the Islands riding, finished third in the 2013 election. (Megan Thomas/CBC)

When asked about the possibility of the Greens holding the balance of power in a possible minority scenario, Olsen said at the time his "phone was charging" but that he hadn't discussed itwith Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver.

Weaver also won his riding of Oak BayGordon Head, after a phone problem delayed reporting of results in that riding.

.@cbcnewsbc exclusively with @BCGreens Leader Andrew Weaver in private hotel suite, watching #bcelxn17 results come in. #cbc #bcvotes pic.twitter.com/aJ9DERO07E
—@CBCtanya

Incumbents hold ground

For the rest of Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, the NDP and Liberals appeared to holdon to their previous seats.

NDP Leader John Horgan has held his seat of LangfordJuan de Fuca, as have most other NDP incumbents:

Carole James (VictoriaBeacon Hill).
Nicholas Simons (Powell RiverSunshine Coast).
Scott Fraser (Mid IslandPacific Rim).
Rob Fleming (VictoriaSwan Lake).
Doug Routley (NanaimoNorth Cowichan).
Leonard Krog (Nanaimo).
Claire Trevena (North Island).
Lana Popham (Saanich South).

The NDP's Mitzi Dean has also been elected in EsquimaltMetchosin, a riding previously held by three-term NDP MLA Maurine Karagianis.

The NDP's Nicholas Simons was among the incumbents re-elected when he held his riding of Powell RiverSunshine Coast.

Liberal Michelle Stillwell, a former cabinet minister in the Clark government, has held her riding of ParksvilleQualicum.

The New Democrats have traditionally had strong support through Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, and in 2013 won all but three of the 15 ridings in that zone.

The Greensmade history last election by winning theirfirst seat in the legislaturewhen Weaver now their leader won Oak BayGordon Head in Greater Victoria.