B.C. Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon wins legislature seat in Vancouver-Quilchena

Voters in the riding of Vancouver-Quilchena on the city's west side chose Kevin Falcon as their new MLA on Saturday.

Falcon, who became the new leader of B.C. Liberal Party in February, defeatedpolitical science professor Jeanette Ashe, who ran for the NDP;emergency management expert Wendy Haykowho ran for the B.C. Greens;lawyer Dallas Brodiewho ran for the B.C. Conservative Party, and businessperson Sandra Filosof-Schipperwho ranfor the Libertarian Party.

Falcon received 58.61per cent of the popular vote. Hisclosest competitor was Ashe, who wonabout 24 per cent of the vote, followed by Hayko with 10 per cent.

A total of10,579 votes were cast in the byelection. There are approximately35,000registered voters in the riding, according to Elections B.C.

'Wonderful message from voters'

Falcon told a crowd of supporters at the party's headquarters inVancouver that he has heard concerns from voters about housing andfuel prices, as well as a lack of access to family doctors.

"Tonight we got a wonderful message from voters ofVancouver-Quilchena, that said it is time for the end of emptyrhetoric, it is time for a government that gets results,'' Falconsaid.

Premier John Horgan congratulated Falcon and welcomed him into the legislature on Twitter.

The riding's past MLAs include former Premier Gordon Campbell and cabinet minister Colin Hansen, who both ran for the B.C. Liberals.

Wilkinson formally stepped down as MLA on Feb.17 after Falcon, who was not a sitting MLA and had previously been involved in the private sector, was chosen as the new leader of the B.C. Liberals.

Advance voting began on April 22 while polls in Vancouver-Quilchenaon Saturday opened at 8 a.m.and closed at 8 p.m. PT. Results were posted by Elections B.C. shortly after the polls closed.

Itsaid the byelection wasthe first provincial byelection to use new technology, including electronic voting books and tabulators to cross voters off the voters list, and allow for results to be reported faster.

However, the winner will likely start their new job as MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena after May 9, once results are finalized and made official.

Surrey South byelection looming

After this byelection, the B.C. government is expected to call another vote for the riding of Surrey South to fill the seat left vacant by Stephanie Cadieux, who will be moving on to a position with the federal government as Canada's first chief accessibility officer.

Political scientist Hamish Telford with the University of the Fraser Valley said he expects the Surrey South byelection, which is to be called within a six-month window,tobe a more exciting race thanVancouver-Quilchena, with a showdown potentially this summer or early fall.

"There are other byelections coming up which could be more competitive and perhaps pick-ups for the NDP," said Telford.

Telford said byelection contests are generally one-offs with low voter turnout, but in some cases can be indicative of a political shift.

In the last election, he explained, the B.C. NDP picked up MLA seats in more urban ridings in the Metro Vancouver area to gain a majority government so the riding of Surrey South may be a tantalizing prospect.

He said if the B.C. Liberals hold onto theirseat in the Surrey South byelection, it could help Falcon and his party gain some momentum.

"It would be too early to pronounce that the Liberals are back, but it would be a step in the right direction and something to build off," said Telford.

However, if the NDP wins in Surrey South, it's a successful upset bolstering support for Premier John Horgan's government, he said.