LIVE BLOG: Mid-Island results and reaction from 2020 B.C. Election

12:25 a.m. Live blog signing off
All three mid-Island ridings are projected to go to the NDP, even with thousands of mail in ballots still to be counted.

Sheila Malcolmson in Nanaimo won handedly over Lia Versaevel and Kathleen Jones while Doug Routley survived a spirited challenge from Chris Istace with Duck Paterson placing third in Nanaimo-North Cowichan.

Parksville-Qualicum is projected to flip for the first time since 1996 when current Nanaimo mayor Leonard Krog was ousted. Adam Walker is eyeing a victory over two-term MLA Michelle Stilwell.

The BC NDP will only make candidates available for media interviews once their internal process declares a winner in ridings. As of this update, the NDP have not declared Walker a winner.

NanaimoNewsNOW will speak with Walker as soon as the riding has been confirmed by the party.

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10:45 p.m. Parksville-Qualicum appears set to flip to NDP
Town of Qualicum councillor Adam Walker looks primed to be the next MLA of Parksville-Qualicum, unseating Michelle Stilwell and flipping a long-time Liberal seat.

Walker leads by under 1,000 votes without including mail in ballots which will be counted over the coming days and weeks.

Incumbent Michelle Stilwell told NanaimoNewsNOW she’s not ready to concede the race.

“We’ll wait until those final ballots come in. At the end of the day this is a democratic process and whatever the people have decided, that’s how it shall be.”

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10:35 p.m. Sheila Malcolmson speaks with NanaimoNewsNOW on her win as Routley confirmed in Nanaimo-North Cowichan
Doug Routley will join Sheila Malcolmson in the Legislature for four more years as he has been declared the winner for Nanaimo-North Cowichan. Routley held off a stern challenge from Chris Istace of the BC Greens.

Sheila Malcolmson spoke with NanaimoNewsNOW in the wake of her victory and commented on a possible cabinet spot in an NDP majority government.

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9:55 p.m. Political commentator Allan Warnke on NDP majority, Green rise
The NDP will govern with a majority for the next four years, currently leading or elected in over 50 seats. They have been again strong on Vancouver Island while making inroads elsewhere in the province.

NanaimoNewsNOW’s Ian Holmes spoke with former VIU political studies professor Allan Warnke on the NDP’s path over the next term and key battles on Vancouver Island.

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9:30 p.m. Homelessness and Social Disorder
Parksville-Qualicum continues to be a dog fight between Adam Walker and Michelle Stilwell with the long-time Liberal riding in danger of flipping. Sheila Malcolmson will return to Victoria with Doug Routley looking set to join her in a majority NDP government.

Questions about social disorder and homelessness are always addressed during a provincial election but this year it fought for time with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spencer Sterritt has details about how the issue was addressed.

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9:20 p.m. Sheila Malcolmson re-elected as MLA for Nanaimo
Sheila Malcolmson has won her first re-election campaign and will serve another four more years in the Legislature. The riding has been declared with her winning over Lia Versaevel of the BC Greens and Kathleen Jones from the BC Liberals.

It was Malcolmson’s first campaign since moving to provincial politics during January 2019 by-election.

Doug Routley in Nanaimo-North Cowichan leads by a few hundred votes over Chris Istace (GRN). Parksville-Qualicum is still too close to call between Adam Walker (NDP) and Michelle Stilwell (LIB).

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9:10 p.m. Michelle Stilwell could be in trouble in Parksville-Qualicum
Liberal incumbent Michelle Stilwell is in a dog fight with the NDP’s Adam Walker in a traditional stronghold for the BC Liberals. The party has held the riding since 1996.

VIU Political Studies professor Dr. Alexander Netherton spoke with NanaimoNewsNOW’s Ian Holmes on the early vote counts and a potential flip of Parksville-Qualicum.

Sheila Malcolmson leads comfortably in Nanaimo while Doug Routley is narrowly ahead of Chris Istace in Nanaimo-North Cowichan.

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9:00 p.m. Several outlets declaring an NDP government
Multiple media outlets are declaring John Horgan will return as Premier of B.C. with the NDP forming government.

Local results still remain close in Parksville-Qualicum with Adam Walker leading over incumbent Liberal Michelle Stilwell. Sheila Malcolmson and Doug Routley have comfortable leads in their respective ridings.

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8:50 p.m. – Mid-Island Pacific Rim called for NDP
Tofino mayor Josie Osbourne will move into provincial politics after a successful run in the expansive riding including Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet. She replaces retiring NDP MLA Scott Fraser who held the riding since 2005.

It was one of the first ridings awarded in the province.

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8:45 p.m. – Transportation woes on Vancouver Island
Rob Lyon continues to cling to a narrow lead in Parksville-Qualicum over Adam Walker (NDP) and incumbent Michelle Stilwell. In Nanaimo and Nanaimo-North Cowichan the incumbent NDP candidates have jumped to leads as results begin trickling in.

A key question throughout the mid-island was not as heavily featured as many expected. Spencer Sterritt has more.

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8:30 p.m. – First result are coming in
Tofino mayor Josie Osbourne has taken a very early lead in the Mid-Island Pacific Rim riding which has been a long-time NDP stronghold and held by the departing Scott Fraser since 2005.

In Parksville-Qualicum, Rob Lyon has an early lead over Michelle Stilwell and Adam Walker. Results for the two Nanaimo ridings are not tallied yet.

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8:15 p.m. – Student Votes elect NDP majority government
Today’s election isn’t the only vote taking place this week. Across B.C., hundreds of schools took part in the Student Vote campaign, conducting mock elections in their own ridings.

Alex Rawnsley has more.

The full Student Vote results are available on their website.

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8:00 p.m. – Polls are closed
Polls have closed across the province and the counting is underway. Results will begin to trickle in on the live map above in the next 15 to 20 minutes.

Tonight’s count will involve votes cast today and during the seven day advance polling period. Mail-in ballots will be vetted and counted in the weeks ahead.

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7:40 p.m. – Mail-in Ballots
With polls open until 8:00 p.m., the final votes are being cast. However it’s entirely likely results from today’s election won’t be known for some time.

Even local races, considered safe holds for their respective parties will take time to be official due to the volume of mail in ballots this election cycle.

Daryl Major has more.

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7:15 p.m. – The reality of a COVID-era election
2020 will go down as one of the most tumultuous years with the COVID-19 pandemic and various political issues in senior government.

Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce CEO Kim Smythe said he saw apathy creep into the campaign, especially as COVID-19 cases rise once more.

Smythe said the campaign was muted in many ways by the pandemic, which prevented the usual rallies and campaign events.

“I just don’t get a sense in the community that there’s a lot of anticipation about what the day after the election is going to bring.”

He added the campaign was muted in many ways by the pandemic, which prevented the usual rallies and campaign events.

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6:45 p.m. – Riding previews ahead of final hour of voting
Eleven candidates are contesting three mid-Island ridings which have been long-time strongholds for their respective parties.

Both Nanaimo and Nanaimo-North Cowichan have been under NDP control since the early 2000’s while Parksville-Qualicum has leaned Liberal since 1996. Alex Rawnsley has more.

Polls close at 8:00 p.m. with votes totals set to begin flowing shortly after. Mail-in ballots will not be counted Saturday night. That process typically takes over two weeks and will likely be longer this election cycle.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW

by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

LIVE BLOG: Mid-Island results and reaction from 2020 B.C. Election

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