British Columbia general election, 2013
Encyclopedia
The 40th British Columbia general election is tentatively scheduled for May 14, 2013, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly
in the Canadian
province of British Columbia
. The BC Liberal Party
formed the government of the province prior to this general election
under the leadership of Premier
Gordon Campbell. The New Democratic Party under the leadership of Adrian Dix
is the Official Opposition.
's right to dissolve the Legislative Assembly as he or she sees fit.
, which was very unpopular with voters.
In the ensuing leadership campaign, Christy Clark
, the eventual winner, suggested she would prefer to hold an election earlier than 2013 to secure her own mandate. She is believed to be preparing her party for an election as early as autumn 2011. However, due to the unfavourable result from the HST referendum, she has decided to rule out an early election.
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. The BC Liberal Party
British Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
formed the government of the province prior to this general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
under the leadership of Premier
Premier of British Columbia
The Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
Gordon Campbell. The New Democratic Party under the leadership of Adrian Dix
Adrian Dix
Adrian Dix is a Canadian politician, currently serving as MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway in British Columbia and as leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2005 election.-Aide to Glen Clark:...
is the Official Opposition.
Timing
Section 23 of British Columbia's Constitution Act provides that general elections occur on the second Tuesday of fourth calendar year after the last election. As the most recent election was on May 12, 2009, the next election would be held on May 14, 2013, under that provision. The same section though makes the fixed election date subject to the Lieutenant GovernorLieutenant Governor of British Columbia
The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia is the viceregal representative in British Columbia of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared with equally the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest...
's right to dissolve the Legislative Assembly as he or she sees fit.
Background
After leading the BC Liberals for 17 years, Gordon Campbell announced he would resign as Premier and party leader in November 2010. This was seen as the result of opposition to the Harmonized Sales TaxHarmonized Sales Tax
The Harmonized Sales Tax is the name used in Canada to describe the combination of the federal Goods and Services Tax and the regional Provincial Sales Tax into a single value added sales tax in five of the ten Canadian provinces: Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, British...
, which was very unpopular with voters.
In the ensuing leadership campaign, Christy Clark
Christy Clark
Christina Joan "Christy" Clark, MLA is a Canadian politician, the 35th and current Premier of British Columbia, Canada...
, the eventual winner, suggested she would prefer to hold an election earlier than 2013 to secure her own mandate. She is believed to be preparing her party for an election as early as autumn 2011. However, due to the unfavourable result from the HST referendum, she has decided to rule out an early election.
Registered political parties
This is a list of currently registered political parties.| Party | Leader | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia Liberal Party British Columbia Liberal Party The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election... |
Christy Clark Christy Clark Christina Joan "Christy" Clark, MLA is a Canadian politician, the 35th and current Premier of British Columbia, Canada... |
The BC Liberals won the 2009 election under Gordon Campbell. Polling numbers have been hard upon the Liberals since their re-election, with many polls stating the prevailing reason as the introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax, although a budget deficit and service cuts were also shown to be factors. On February 26, 2011, Christy Clark Christy Clark Christina Joan "Christy" Clark, MLA is a Canadian politician, the 35th and current Premier of British Columbia, Canada... was chosen as its leader in their 2011 leadership convention British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election, 2011 The British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election of 2011 was prompted by Gordon Campbell's announcement on November 3, 2010 that he would be resigning as Premier of British Columbia and had asked the BC Liberal Party to hold a leadership convention "at the earliest possible date." The... . |
|
| British Columbia New Democratic Party | Adrian Dix Adrian Dix Adrian Dix is a Canadian politician, currently serving as MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway in British Columbia and as leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2005 election.-Aide to Glen Clark:... |
On April 17, 2011, Adrian Dix Adrian Dix Adrian Dix is a Canadian politician, currently serving as MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway in British Columbia and as leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2005 election.-Aide to Glen Clark:... was chosen as its leader in their 2011 leadership convention British Columbia New Democratic Party leadership election, 2011 The British Columbia New Democratic Party leadership convention of 2011 was prompted by Carole James's announcement on December 6, 2010 that she would be resigning as leader of the party... . |
|
| Green Party of British Columbia Green Party of British Columbia The Green Party of British Columbia is a political party in British Columbia, Canada. It is led by former Esquimalt municipal councillor, university professor and businessperson Jane Sterk, she was elected by the party in 2007. Penticton realtor and columnist Julius Bloomfield serves as the deputy... |
Jane Sterk Jane Sterk Jane Sterk is the leader of the Green Party of British Columbia, a candidate in the Esquimalt-Royal Roads riding in the 2009 British Columbia provincial election, and a business professor at University Canada West. She was elected leader of the provincial Green Party in October 2007, and elected... |
The BC Greens have continued to poll in the low-teens despite a low profile. While they managed not to go into debt following the 2009 provincial election, the party does not possess the resources and organization of the other major parties. | |
| British Columbia Conservative Party British Columbia Conservative Party The British Columbia Conservative Party is a political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected as the government in 1903, the party went into decline after 1933... |
John Cummins | ||
| British Columbia Refederation Party British Columbia Refederation Party The B.C. Refederation Party is a provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada advocating direct democracy and reform to Canadian federalism... |
Ingrid Voigt | ||
| British Columbia Libertarian Party British Columbia Libertarian Party The British Columbia Libertarian Party is a libertarian political party in British Columbia, Canada.It first nominated candidates in the 1986 provincial election... |
TBD | ||
| Reform Party of British Columbia Reform Party of British Columbia The Reform Party of British Columbia is a populist right wing political party in British Columbia, Canada. Although its name is similar to the defunct Reform Party of Canada, the provincial party was founded before the federal party was and it did not have any formal association with... |
David Charles Hawkins | ||
| Nation Alliance Party Nation Alliance Party The Nation Alliance Party is a minor political party in British Columbia, Canada. Currently led by Wei Ping Chen, the party was recognized by Elections BC in 2007.... |
Wei Ping Chen | ||
| Sex Party Sex Party (British Columbia) The Sex Party is a political party based in British Columbia, Canada, that contests provincial elections to promote libertarian and sex-positive attitudes towards sexual education, pornography, indecency laws, and prostitution. It describes itself as "the world's first registered political party... |
John Ince John Ince (politician) John Ince is a lawyer, politician, an erotic arts enthusiast, and the controversial author of a book called The Politics of Lust. He founded The Erosha School of Erotic Massage and The Art of Loving, a sexuality center in Vancouver, British Columbia... |
||
| Communist Party of British Columbia Communist Party of British Columbia The Communist Party of British Columbia is the British Columbia branch of the Communist Party of Canada. Its leader is Sam Hammond.From the 1945 British Columbia election to the 1956 election, it was known as the Labour Progressive Party.... |
George Gidora | ||
| People's Front People's Front (British Columbia) The People's Front is the British Columbia, Canada wing of the Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada.In the 2001 British Columbia election, it nominated 11 candidates, received a total of 720 votes... |
Charles Boylan Charles Boylan Charles Boylan is a Canadian radio broadcaster and political activist. He produces and hosts Wake up with co-op and Discussion, programs on CFRO 102.7; a community-run, co-operatively-owned, non-corporate radio station broadcasting from Vancouver, British Columbia... |
||
| British Columbia Marijuana Party British Columbia Marijuana Party The British Columbia Marijuana Party is a minor political party in the Canadian province of British Columbia that advocates the legalisation of cannabis.... |
Marc Emery Marc Emery Marc Scott Emery is a Canadian cannabis policy reform advocate, as well as a former cannabis seed seller. He is currently serving a five year sentence in a United States federal prison for selling cannabis seeds.... |
||
| Your Political Party Your Political Party of British Columbia Your Political Party of British Columbia is a minor political party in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It is registered with Elections BC, the provincial legislature's elections agency.-Electoral performance:... |
James Filippelli | ||
| Work Less Party of British Columbia Work Less Party of British Columbia The Work Less Party is a political party in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The party was founded in 2003 by Conrad Schmidt. It has a federal wing and also participates in municipal politics... |
Conrad Schmidt Conrad Schmidt Conrad Schmidt is a social activist, filmmaker and writer living in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada who is best known for his role in founding the Work Less Party of British Columbia and for creating the internationally known World Naked Bike Ride protest.-Biography:Schmidt was born and raised... |
||
| Western Canada Concept Western Canada Concept Party of British Columbia The Western Canada Concept Party of BC is a provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada. It was the British Columbia branch of the Western Canada Concept, a political party that operated at the federal level, advocating the separation of the four western provinces of Canada and the... |
Doug Christie Doug Christie (lawyer) Douglas Hewson "Doug" Christie, Jr. is a Canadian lawyer and far-right political activist based in Victoria, British Columbia.-Career:... |
||
| BC First Party | TBD | BC First founding Annual General Meeting is being planned for early 2012. |
Opinion polls
| Polling Firm | Date of Polling | Link | Lib. British Columbia Liberal Party The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election... |
NDP | Green Green Party of British Columbia The Green Party of British Columbia is a political party in British Columbia, Canada. It is led by former Esquimalt municipal councillor, university professor and businessperson Jane Sterk, she was elected by the party in 2007. Penticton realtor and columnist Julius Bloomfield serves as the deputy... |
Cons. | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion is an international public affairs practice. It was established in 2006 under the name Angus Reid Strategies by Dr Angus Reid, a Canadian sociologist who founded his first research company in 1979. Reid sold the Angus Reid Group to Paris-based Ipsos SA in 2000... |
31 | 40 | 8 | 18 | |||
| Ipsos Reid | 38 | 45 | 6 | 12 | |||
| Robbins SCE Research | http://www.robbinssceresearch.com/polls/poll_842.html | 34 | 38 | 5.5 | 20 | ||
| Robbins SCE Research | http://www.robbinssceresearch.com/polls/poll_842.html | 34 | 44 | 5 | 16 | ||
| Robbins SCE Research | http://www.robbinssceresearch.com/polls/poll_842.html | 34.93 | 39.84 | 9.31 | 15.45 | ||
| Robbins SCE Research | http://www.robbinssceresearch.com/polls/poll_842.html | 34 | 40.5 | 8 | 17.5 | ||
| Robbins SCE Research | http://www.robbinssceresearch.com/polls/poll_842.html | 31.9 | 40.9 | 5.5 | 17.4 | 3.2 | |
| Ipsos Reid | 41 | 39 | 8 | 10 | |||
| Mustel Group | http://www.mustelgroup.com/voter_intention.html | 37 | 35 | 9 | 18 | 1 | |
| Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion is an international public affairs practice. It was established in 2006 under the name Angus Reid Strategies by Dr Angus Reid, a Canadian sociologist who founded his first research company in 1979. Reid sold the Angus Reid Group to Paris-based Ipsos SA in 2000... |
43 | 38 | 10 | 5 | 4 | ||
| Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion is an international public affairs practice. It was established in 2006 under the name Angus Reid Strategies by Dr Angus Reid, a Canadian sociologist who founded his first research company in 1979. Reid sold the Angus Reid Group to Paris-based Ipsos SA in 2000... |
38 | 38 | 12 | 7 | 5 | ||
| Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion is an international public affairs practice. It was established in 2006 under the name Angus Reid Strategies by Dr Angus Reid, a Canadian sociologist who founded his first research company in 1979. Reid sold the Angus Reid Group to Paris-based Ipsos SA in 2000... |
36 | 36 | 14 | 6 | 8 | ||
| Mustel Group | 37 | 42 | 10 | 9 | 3 | ||
| Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion is an international public affairs practice. It was established in 2006 under the name Angus Reid Strategies by Dr Angus Reid, a Canadian sociologist who founded his first research company in 1979. Reid sold the Angus Reid Group to Paris-based Ipsos SA in 2000... |
HTML | 24 | 49 | 13 | 8 | 6 | |
| Mustel Group | 33 | 42 | 12 | 11 | 2 | ||
| Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion is an international public affairs practice. It was established in 2006 under the name Angus Reid Strategies by Dr Angus Reid, a Canadian sociologist who founded his first research company in 1979. Reid sold the Angus Reid Group to Paris-based Ipsos SA in 2000... |
27 | 48 | 13 | 6 | 6 | ||
| Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion is an international public affairs practice. It was established in 2006 under the name Angus Reid Strategies by Dr Angus Reid, a Canadian sociologist who founded his first research company in 1979. Reid sold the Angus Reid Group to Paris-based Ipsos SA in 2000... |
23 | 46 | 14 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion is an international public affairs practice. It was established in 2006 under the name Angus Reid Strategies by Dr Angus Reid, a Canadian sociologist who founded his first research company in 1979. Reid sold the Angus Reid Group to Paris-based Ipsos SA in 2000... |
26 | 46 | 14 | 8 | 6 | ||
| Mustel Group | 32 | 44 | 13 | 7 | 3 | ||
| Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion is an international public affairs practice. It was established in 2006 under the name Angus Reid Strategies by Dr Angus Reid, a Canadian sociologist who founded his first research company in 1979. Reid sold the Angus Reid Group to Paris-based Ipsos SA in 2000... |
29 | 47 | 15 | 5 | 4 | ||
| Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion is an international public affairs practice. It was established in 2006 under the name Angus Reid Strategies by Dr Angus Reid, a Canadian sociologist who founded his first research company in 1979. Reid sold the Angus Reid Group to Paris-based Ipsos SA in 2000... |
35 | 43 | 13 | 6 | 3 | ||
| Innovation Research (604 region only) | PHP | 29 | 33 | 14 | 18 | 6 | |
| Mustel Group | 35 | 43 | 15 | 5 | 2 | ||
| Angus Reid Strategies Angus Reid Strategies Angus Reid Public Opinion is an international public affairs practice. It was established in 2006 under the name Angus Reid Strategies by Dr Angus Reid, a Canadian sociologist who founded his first research company in 1979. Reid sold the Angus Reid Group to Paris-based Ipsos SA in 2000... |
HTML | 33 | 47 | 10 | 7 | 3 | |
| Angus Reid Strategies Angus Reid Strategies Angus Reid Public Opinion is an international public affairs practice. It was established in 2006 under the name Angus Reid Strategies by Dr Angus Reid, a Canadian sociologist who founded his first research company in 1979. Reid sold the Angus Reid Group to Paris-based Ipsos SA in 2000... |
HTML | 31 | 45 | 11 | 7 | 6 | |
| Angus Reid Strategies Angus Reid Strategies Angus Reid Public Opinion is an international public affairs practice. It was established in 2006 under the name Angus Reid Strategies by Dr Angus Reid, a Canadian sociologist who founded his first research company in 1979. Reid sold the Angus Reid Group to Paris-based Ipsos SA in 2000... |
HTML | 34 | 42 | 12 | 7 | 5 | |
| Election 2009 British Columbia general election, 2009 The 39th British Columbia general election was held on May 12, 2009 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell... |
- | 45.83 | 42.14 | 8.2 | 2.1 | 1.28 |
External links
- Elections BC
- Election Almanac - British Columbia Provincial Election 2013
- TrendLines Research Weekly chart tracking of the Federal & BC seat projection models
- Legislative Assembly Library Election Weblinks