VICTORIA — The NDP, whose come-from-behind 27-vote election victory is credited with giving British Columbia Premier David Eby a slim majority, says it is a bridge builder in its community and that the party needs similar relationships across the province.

Garry Begg’s slim victory over the BC Conservative candidate in Surrey-Guildford is still subject to a judicial recount, but for now it gives the NDP the 47 seats needed to form a majority on the 93 seats in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly.

Begg, a former RCMP officer first elected in 2017, was greeted with hugs and handshakes Wednesday as the new NDP caucus gathered at the legislature for its first meeting since before the election from October 19.

“I’m not building walls. I’m building bridges. We have bridges to build here,” Begg said, referring to communities across the province.

Begg trailed British Columbia Conservative candidate Honveer Singh Randhawa by more than 100 votes on election night, but there were still more than 600 mail-in and mail-in ballots left to count.

He narrowed the margin to 12 votes when the absentee ballots were counted on Sunday, then on Monday he finally overtook Randhawa, hours after the absentee count.

Now he says he’s called the “Comeback Kid.”

“There are a multitude of names besides the one I’m usually called, which I won’t tell you about,” he said with a smile.

Begg said he echoed earlier comments from the premier, who said voters sent the NDP a strong message that they wanted change.

“I know they want changes in the way we do things and that’s our goal,” he said. “We have to do it. We have to adapt.”

The NDP won a large majority government in 2020, winning 57 of the Legislative Assembly’s 87 seats. But after all the ballots were counted Monday, the New Democrats emerged with the razor-thin majority of 47 seats in the enlarged legislature.

The BC Conservatives have 44 seats, while the Green Party won two.

Eby said one of his first tasks was to put together a new cabinet after losing five ministers in the election and seven who did not run.

British Columbia Conservative Leader John Rustad said he plans to ensure his new caucus puts intense pressure on the NDP to work to help everyday people in the province.

He said Tuesday he knows residents don’t want to go to new elections right away, “however, when I look at the damage David Eby has done, if he continues on this path, then I will. I have no choice.”

A statement from the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce urged all members to prioritize improving the state of the provincial economy.

“Without a strong economy, affordability will remain elusive for British Columbians,” he said.

The province is lagging behind in many sectors, the report says, noting that 12,400 manufacturing jobs have been lost since 2017 and more than 10,000 forestry sector jobs have been eliminated over the past four years.

“This is unprecedented and unsustainable,” the chamber said.

He said members heard throughout the campaign that families, communities and businesses all face extraordinary affordability challenges.

“The rising costs of essential goods like housing and groceries are putting immense pressure on households, while many small businesses face increasing difficulty meeting wages and staying open for business.”

Eby told media Tuesday he heard the message from voters in this close election that they wanted the NDP to do better on issues such as public safety.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published October 30, 2024.

Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press