BC Municipal Election Day Live: News, results and reaction

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It’s election day. British Columbians go to the polls beginning 8 a.m. immediately to vote for his or her mayors, councillors, faculty trustees (and, in Vancouver solely, their park board commissioners).

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By the top of the night time, after polls shut at 8 p.m., greater than a dozen new mayors will likely be elected within the Decrease Mainland.

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In some cities, mayors — together with Abbotsford’s Henry Braun, Langley Township’s Jack Froese, New Westminster’s Jonathan Cote, and Victoria’s Lisa Helps — are usually not looking for re-election, leaving the fields broad open.

In Vancouver, incumbent mayor Kennedy Stewart is hoping to be re-elected, however faces various challengers, together with Ken Sim of ABC Vancouver and TEAM’s Colleen Hardwick, who’re campaigning on frustration with the established order and a need for change.

Vancouver voters will see one of many metropolis’s longest election ballots in historical past, with 15 folks working for mayor, 59 for council, 31 for college board, and 32 for park board.

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Public security has been a hot-button situation through the marketing campaign, as has housing affordability and improvement.

In Surrey, incumbent mayor Doug McCallum faces a five-way race with Brenda Locke, Gordie Hogg, Jinny Sims, and Sukh Dhaliwal additionally jostling for the highest seat.

A lot of the dialogue has been centred across the RCMP vs. municipal police power debate, however housing, neighborhood amenities, and ethics are additionally key points for residents.

We’ll have dwell protection of the day’s occasions, outcomes as they arrive in and reporters protecting tales from varied Metro Vancouver municipalities. So, save this put up and hit refresh all through the night.

You can too comply with our dwell protection of those municipalities:

• Vancouver
• Surrey
• Burnaby
• New Westminster
• North Vancouver and West Vancouver
• Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody
• Langley

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Energy outage at John Oliver voting place

The polling station at John Oliver Secondary in Vancouver seems to be offline because of an influence outage.

Vancouver resident Bev Willms stated she went to the polling station on the faculty on E. forty first Avenue close to Fraser Road to vote at round 10:30 a.m., however the energy was out so she needed to go to Van Horne Elementary as a substitute. Election employees at John Oliver stated they had been hoping to have the ability again in two hours.

How are the line-ups at your polling station?

B.C. voters, how are the line-ups the place you’re? Clean crusing? Lengthy queues? Screw-ups? E mail me at chchan@postmedia.com or to share your ideas or any issues.

Vancouver Solar and Province metropolis editor Doug Quan received to his polling station vivid and early and was third in line at 7:40 a.m. this morning.

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There was a line-up forming at a polling station in Hastings-Dawn round midday, in line with this tweet by city planner and director of SFU’s Metropolis Program Andy Yan.

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At Charles Tupper secondary later within the day, it was gradual and regular at 10 a.m., stated Jeremy Snyder.

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There are lengthy line-ups being reported in some polling stations in Victoria, whereas it was a smoother expertise in some voting locations in Saanich.

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Voter turnout in municipal elections are notoriously low, as identified by Fred Lee. In Vancouver, the historic common is 36 per cent. In 2018, voter turnout was 39.4 per cent, a four-point drop from 43.4 per cent in 2014.

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Vancouver’s busiest and least busy polling stations

Able to go vote? This will prevent some ready in line in Vancouver.

In 2014, Vancouver switched to “vote wherever” mannequin the place voters can forged their poll at any Metropolis of Vancouver voting place as a substitute of being assigned a delegated place. (Here’s a record of Vancouver’s 82 designated voting locations).

These had been the busiest voting locations in Vancouver in 2018: (Observe: All websites are voting stations this yr, apart from Henry Hudson Elementary)

And these had been the least busy voting locations: (Observe: Solely Lord Roberts Elementary, Westside Baptist Church, Musqueam Neighborhood Centre and UBC AMS Scholar Nest are voting locations this yr)

Is there a least busy time to go vote? In keeping with metropolis information, peak voting volumes hit between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., however had been fairly constant all through the day. If you wish to keep away from traces, your greatest guess is to go within the first or final hour.

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Municipal elections throughout B.C., with main battles in Vancouver, Surrey anticipated

Voters in British Columbia’s cities, cities and villages head to the polls immediately to forged their verdict on native candidates who made huge guarantees this fall to deal with the large points confronting virtually each neighborhood.

From Vancouver and Surrey to the smaller Inside communities of Princeton and Clearwater, campaigns centered on points that usually fall past the municipal realm, reminiscent of well being care, violent crime, psychological well being and dependancy and inexpensive housing.

Incumbent Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart, going through a robust problem from businessman Ken Sim, guarantees to triple the town’s housing purpose over the subsequent decade to 220,000 properties, whereas offering Canada’s strongest renter protections.

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Incumbent Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell says well being care is the highest situation in his North Thompson neighborhood, the place the native hospital’s emergency division experiences common closures.

He says small-town problems with canine parks and potholes are on the again burner on this marketing campaign with residents wanting native authorities to enhance well being care and combat crime.

In Surrey, incumbent Mayor Doug McCallum is going through consecutive challenges, first on the poll field towards seven different candidates, then in court docket on Oct. 31 as he faces trial on a cost of public mischief.

— The Canadian Press

Decrease Mainland: New mayors anticipated in eight municipalities

In 30 Decrease Mainland municipalities from Pemberton to Hope, residents are assured to have new mayors in at the very least eight locations the place incumbents are usually not working once more: Abbotsford, Bowen Island, Harrison Sizzling Springs, Hope, Langley Township, New Westminster, Port Moody and Squamish.

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4 Decrease Mainland mayors, returned to workplace by acclamation as a result of no person ran towards them, are resting a lot simpler immediately than lots of their counterparts elsewhere in B.C.: Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley, Kent Mayor Sylvia Pranger, Pitt Meadows Mayor Nicole MacDonald and Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West.

We have now our eyes on many attention-grabbing mayoral races tonight. Incumbent mayors in 18 Decrease Mainland municipalities face at the very least one challenger for the job.

Polls are actually open

Polls throughout British Columbia opened at 8 a.m. and can keep open till 8 p.m. tonight.

When you’re already registered as a voter, it is best to have acquired a voter info card. Deliver it with you to a voting place as your ID. Or register onsite by offering two items of ID or offering one piece of ID and making a solemn declaration. 

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Voters ought to verify with their municipalities to substantiate what is taken into account an appropriate ID. 

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Column: In order for you change, you’d higher vote

Metro Vancouver voters are a disenchanted and dispirited group — one thing that may virtually definitely be mirrored when the civic election outcomes are available later tonight.

And it might be an extended night time if a robust need for change leads to excessive voter turnout and eventually reverses the long-standing downward development.

Near 60 per cent of voters in Metro Vancouver need change. However nowhere is the will for change extra deeply held than in Vancouver and Surrey, in line with the Leger ballot accomplished for Postmedia.

Three-quarters of these surveyed in Surrey need change. In Vancouver, it’s 69 per cent.

Delving deeper, the pollster discovered {that a} majority in each cities imagine they’re worse off than 4 years in the past. They’re deeply dissatisfied with the mayors and councils and each facet of city life.

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Whereas housing affordability is the highest situation, it’s removed from the one one. The bulk in each cities imagine that their municipal governments did not get the necessities proper — that the providers they obtain don’t justify the taxes they pay.

Learn the complete story right here.

— Daphne Bramham

5 mayors acclaimed in Okanagan Valley/Similkameen

Solely two of 16 municipalities within the Okanagan Valley/Similkameen area are assured to have new mayors on the finish of tonight as a result of incumbents are usually not working once more: Keremeos and Summerland. These 5 mayors within the area return for one more four-year time period by acclamation: Joe Cramer (Armstrong), Ruth Hoyte (Coldstream), Blair Eire (Lake Nation), Martin Johansen (Oliver) and Christine Fraser (Spallumcheen).

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And in Thompson/Shuswap/Columbia, Mayors Barbara Roden (Ashcroft), Ward Stamer (Barriere) and Alan Raine (Solar Peaks) had been all acclaimed after working unopposed for the workplace. Watch for brand spanking new mayors in at the very least 4 places within the area the place incumbents are usually not on the poll: Chase, Kamloops, Lillooet and Lytton.

Six candidates vying to be mayor in Prince George

Prince George is the one one of many eight municipalities within the North Central/Cariboo assured of getting a brand new mayor on the finish of the night time as a result of the incumbent is just not looking for re-election. In distinction, these three mayors within the area had been acclaimed: 100 Mile Home Mayor Maureen Pinkney, Valemont Mayor Owen Torgerson and Wells Mayor Ed Coleman.

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Half of eight municipalities in Peace River will get new mayors

No less than half of the eight municipalities in Peace River will get new mayors tonight as a result of the incumbents are usually not looking for re-election. The 4 are: Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Taylor and Tumbler Ridge. Hudson’s Hope Mayor David Heiberg returns by acclamation.

In West Kootenay/Boundary, these three mayors return to workplace by acclamation within the area of West Kootenay/Boundary: Steve Morissette (Fruitvale), Tom Selenic (Nakusp) and Colin Ferguson (Silverton). There are races for the job within the area’s 13 municipalities, together with these 4 the place incumbents are usually not working once more: Castlegar, Grand Forks, Rossland and Warfield.

A 3rd of North Coast/Nechako municipalities will elect new mayor

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Within the North Coast/Nechako area, voters will elect new mayors in at the very least these six of 18 municipalities within the area of North Coast/Nechako the place incumbents are usually not on the poll: Burns Lake, Hazelton, Prince Rupert, Stewart, Telkwa and Vanderhoof.

In distinction, these seven mayors in the identical area don’t have to fret about re-election as a result of they’ve been returned to workplace unopposed: Sarah Storey (Fraser Lake), Linda McGuire (Granisle), Shane Brienen (Houston), Phil Germuth (Kitimat), Sheri Disney (Masset), Scott Cabianca (Port Clements) and Sean Butjas (Terrace).

Voting in Vancouver? Listed below are 12 sizzling election subjects and the place 9 totally different events stand

Vancouver voters will select a brand new mayor and council immediately. For maybe the primary time within the metropolis’s historical past, there are seven totally different events with incumbent council members working.

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To assist voters select, we compiled temporary summaries from these events, plus two others, on the place they stand on key points going through the town.

Learn reporter Dan Fumano‘s full story right here.

• For info on the right way to vote in Vancouver, click on right here.
• Here’s a record of candidates working for mayor and council.

Voting in Surrey? Listed below are 6 sizzling election subjects and the place every mayoral candidate stands

Surrey, B.C.’s second-largest metropolis, will elect its subsequent mayor and council immediately. We have now put collectively a abstract of the place the six events fielding a mayoral candidate stand on six key points.

Learn reporter Glenda Luymes‘ full story right here.

• For info on the right way to forged your vote in Surrey, click on right here.
• Right here is record of candidates for mayor and council.

Burnaby Election preview: It’s an open battle as housing stays key situation

For many years, the NDP-affiliated Burnaby Residents Affiliation loved a stranglehold on the town’s politics, however that grip on energy is now loosening.

Persevering with disenchantment with housing affordability might erode the occasion’s maintain on energy even additional this election in B.C.’s third-largest metropolis.

In 2018, Derek Corrigan was toppled after a 16-year run as Burnaby mayor by newcomer Mike Hurley, a retired Burnaby Hearth Division captain.

On this election, Hurley has been acclaimed as mayor since he ran unopposed. In the meantime, 27 candidates are working for eight council seats, together with eight BCA candidates, six One Burnaby hopefuls, 4 Inexperienced Celebration candidates, and 9 independents.

Learn reporter Gordon Hoekstra‘s full story right here.

Richmond election preview: Mayoral candidates duel over progress on housing

Richmond’s mayor has come underneath hearth for lack of motion on housing from his opponent within the metropolis’s mayoral race.

Mayor Malcolm Brodie informed an all-candidates assembly this week that the town wants extra assets to deal with housing and affordability points, and that it must work with different ranges of presidency and builders.

However his challenger within the race, RITE Richmond mayoral candidate John Roston, stated metropolis corridor underneath Brodie has not been powerful sufficient within the situation and writing letters is just not sufficient.

Learn reporter Joanne Lee-Younger‘s full story right here.

• For info on the right way to vote in Richmond, click on right here.
• Here’s a record of candidates for mayor and council.

North and West Vancouver Election preview: Site visitors congestion, improvement dominate debate

For a lot of, it’s a bridge too few.

Nothing will get North Shore residents frothing greater than being caught making an attempt to get throughout the water whereas navigating one of many 4 or 5 lanes accessible on the 2 bridges connecting them to the remainder of Metro Vancouver.

Besides, that’s, the problem of improvement.

You might loosely name the elections within the three municipalities — which collectively have a inhabitants of 190,410 in line with the 2021 Census — contests between progressives and traditionalists, bike lanes and density vs. automotive tradition and single-family dwellings.

Learn reporter Gordon McIntyre‘s full story right here.

• Click on right here for extra info on the right way to vote within the Metropolis of North Vancouver, right here for the District of North Vancouver and right here for West Vancouver.
• For lists of mayoral and council candidates, click on right here for Metropolis of North Vancouver, right here for District of North Vancouver and right here for West Vancouver.

New Westminster election preview: ‘Tight three-way race’ predicted for mayor after former mayor exits politics

The race for the mayor’s chair in New Westminster may very well be an in depth three-way contest amongst two former councillors and a newcomer, and voters received’t be blamed for complicated which candidate stands for what.

Voters are going through two unfamiliar occasion names, with Neighborhood First New Westminster, made up of councillors previously on outgoing Mayor Jonathan Cote’s Staff Cote, and the newly shaped New Westminster Progressives, headed by a first-time municipal candidate.

Neighborhood First has extra “progressive” insurance policies, and the Progressives are extra conventional and conservative, stated Douglas School professor Sam Schechter.

“There may be going to be a variety of model confusion” between the 2 events, stated Schechter, a former North Vancouver metropolis councillor and a communications professor with an curiosity in municipal governments. “It’s going to be an in depth three-way race.”

Learn reporter Susan Lazaruk‘s full story right here.

• For info on the right way to vote in New Westminster, click on right here.
• Here’s a record of candidates for mayor and council.

Langley election preview: Mayoral candidates pitch their options for housing disaster

Younger and middle-class households in Langley Township are being priced out of the very neighbourhood they grew up in.

This makes housing unaffordability a problem underpinning the race for mayor this election, with 4 candidates vying to exchange Jack Froese, who is just not looking for re-election. All 4 have been councillors or provincial politicians.

Their proposed options vary from charging builders extra charges to utilizing township land to construct below-market housing.

Learn reporter Sarah Grochowski‘s full story right here.

• Click on right here for info on the right way to vote in Langley Township, and right here for info on the right way to vote in Langley Metropolis.

• Here’s a record of candidates working for mayor and council in Langley Township and right here is the record for Langley Metropolis.

Extra useful hyperlinks

• Listed below are the 15 folks working for mayor in Vancouver
• Listed below are the folks working to exchange Mayor Rob Vagramov in Port Moody
• Full record of candidates working throughout British Columbia
• Elections BC: Native elections FAQ

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