Andrew Weaver makes history as the first elected Green MLA in B.C.

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      UVic climate scientist Andrew Weaver has been elected in Oak Bay-Gordon Head.

      Weaver has become the first Green to win a contest for the B.C. legislature.

      With 65 of 134 ballot boxes counted, Weaver has an 889 vote lead over Jessica Van der Veen of the NDP.

      B.C. Liberal Ida Chong is in third place, more than 200 votes behind the New Democrat.

      Weaver is the deputy leader of the B.C. Green party. It's his first attempt to get elected.

      Comments

      8 Comments

      LOL

      May 14, 2013 at 10:15pm

      Yeah Great and COMPLETELY POWERLESS to affect change under our Westminster System where a majority is in effect a DICTATORSHIP!

      Erich Jacoby-Hawkins

      May 15, 2013 at 7:50am

      You could say the same about the entire Official Opposition, then. But in fact having a seat in the legislature raises the prominence of the party and its policies, provides greater access to media and to government, and in general is a key step in moving toward even greater change. Rarely does a party go from zero seats to governing in one election - each step in between is important and significant.

      Lin Norton

      May 15, 2013 at 8:17am

      It all starts with one step forward...

      Dawson Simmering

      May 15, 2013 at 1:18pm

      This was a nothing more than a gimmicky, single-issue, fringe-party vote in a fringe riding. The people who gave him the vote will claim it "sends a message." The only substantive message is that it gives Weaver a different job. He and the 'party' will remain marginalized. There is nothing to build on.

      No, this is not a movement or a sea change. Greens across the provincial ridings collected vote numbers normally reserved for kook candidates. Only in a few ridings was there potential for them to deny a local NDP success, which still would not have affected the provincial election.

      Greens are good people, but they are now, the dog that caught the car. And Oak Bay - Gordon Head now have the poorest form of representation in the legislature; fringe.

      Martin Dunphy

      May 15, 2013 at 4:04pm

      Dawson:

      Read Erich's post above. It is the perfect, and only, reply to your last sentence.

      Natty

      May 15, 2013 at 4:47pm

      Why do people assume a Green voter would chose NDP if there were no other alternative? I've long voted Green Party and never once have I considered voting for the provincial NDP. If you're given a choice on who to vote for, why shouldn't you choose the party whose platform you support rather than pick one you dislike just so that some other party can't get in?

      Jaime Verde

      May 15, 2013 at 10:13pm

      The Green Party will grow organically.
      Saanich, Cowichan Valley and Comox will soon go Green
      As will Nelson in the interior of BC.

      Laura

      May 18, 2013 at 1:44pm

      Everything you are against can be restated in a way that puts you in support of something. I voted for what I believe in. I feel good about my vote - I voted with hope, not fear! Andrew will be a sane, intelligent, and passionate voice in our government.