Who is B.C.'s new premier Lorne Doerkson?
B.C. premier-designate Lorne Doerkson spent his victory speech Saturday night introducing himself to British Columbians, and celebrating the "trailblazers" who came to the province searching for gold and a better life.
Doerkson becomes 1st premier from B.C.'s Interior since Bill Bennett left office in 1986
CBC News
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B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson struck political gold Saturday night.
The former small-town newspaper publisher delivered a stunning defeat to David Eby's NDP and led the B.C. Conservatives to a commanding majority government.
Early Sunday morning, Doerkson's Conservatives were leading in 64 ridings, reducing the NDP to just 27 seats and toppling several cabinet ministers.
It's a remarkable turnaround for a political party that was in disarray just five weeks ago, days before a snap election was called.
But where his political opponents may have seen weakness, Doerkson said British Columbians chose instead to seize an opportunity.
"For a very long time, a lot of British Columbians have felt like Victoria forgot about them, like the map maybe stopped at Hope," Doerkson told a throng of more than 1,000 supporters at the Rocky Mountaineer Station in Vancouver.
"But tonight the whole map counts."
WATCH | Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson gives victory speech:
FULL SPEECH: Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson's victory speech
12 hours ago|
Duration
17:01
Rodeos to newspapers to politics
Born in New Westminster, Doerkson grew up in Surrey and the B.C. Interior, before settling in Williams Lake, where he raised a family.
He spent 20 years publishing community newspapers and volunteering with local business and community service groups before entering politics.
"That was a very good education for me," he told supporters. "You learn what’s really going on in a town: who’s hiring, who’s closing, who’s hoping."
Doerkson was first elected in Cariboo-Chilcotin as a B.C. Liberal in 2020, and later joined John Rustad's fledgling Conservative caucus.
His victory makes him the first premier from B.C.'s Interior since Bill Bennett left office in 1986.
Doerkson was on his way home from South Africa last month when he learned his Conservative caucus colleagues wanted him to take over the party as interim leader.
Kerry-Lynne Findlay had just resigned after months of scandals that led to the departure or expulsion of more than a dozen MLAs.
Doerkson admitted he needed convincing.
"Of course, it was a little bit of a short notice," he said in a pre-election interview with CBC News.
Lorne Doerkson speaks to supporters in the crowd during provincial election night Saturday. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press)
Promises to cut income taxes, red tape
Doerkson spent his victory speech Saturday night introducing himself to British Columbians at the same time as celebrating the "trailblazers" who came to the province searching for gold and a better life.
It's a spirit he told supporters that still animates the province, where people want to build something big, from resource communities through to the big metro areas.
"That is the trailblazing spirit of British Columbia and it never left, it just needs government that’s on its side," he said.
WATCH | CBC News projects a Conservative government:
CBC News projects a B.C. Conservative majority government
October 25|
Duration
1:59
Doerkson reiterated promises to cut red tape "like it’s never been cut before," speed up forestry and mining permits, and triple natural gas production by 2035.
"A province only works if all of it works," he said.
"A mill running in Quesnel keeps a trucker working in Surrey. A mine opening in the north keeps the port busy in Delta. It’s one economy and it runs through every town on our map."
Doerkson also pledged no new taxes and health care that is "fully and publicly funded."
Still, questions remain about how he'll pay for everything, including a promise to cut income taxes by $1,000 a year.
The province is already on track to see a $13.8-billion deficit in 2026-27.
The NDP spent their campaign warning that the Conservatives' platform could mean cuts to health care and education.
Speaking in Vancouver Saturday, Doerkson reiterated election promises, including to cut red tape 'like it’s never been cut before.' (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press)
Overcoming divisions
As premier-designate, Doerkson now faces the challenge of not only governing but keeping together a coalition that includes social conservatives and more centrist, fiscal conservatives.
And though he has promised to repeal B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People’s Act, he appealed to First Nations communities as partners in the province’s development.
"This future is one we build together as partners with the certainty that all of us need," he said.
One source of division Doerkson won't need to deal with immediately will be the NDP.
With preliminary results showing New Democrats reduced to fewer than 30 seats, the Official Opposition's first priority will be choosing a new leader to replace David Eby who announced Saturday that he will step down.
With files from Matt Preprost, Simon Little and Katie DeRosa
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