The B.C. NDP's Josie Osborne has been re-elected in the Mid Island-Pacific Rim riding for the 2024 provincial election.
With all 32 of 32 ballot boxes counted (including nine advance polls), Osborne has received 48.53 percent of the votes. Conservative candidate Adam Hayduk has received 39.77 percent of votes and Green Party candidate Ross Reid has received 11.70 percent of votes. There were 27,999 total ballots cast in the riding with out of district ballots in progress.
At a watch party in Port Alberni on Saturday, Oct. 19, Osborne thanked her campaign team for their work throughout the election B次元官网网址� and also thanked the Mid Island-Pacific Rim people for their support.
B次元官网网址淭his election is about how IB次元官网网址檓 working for people and the trust thatB次元官网网址檚 been placed back in me to continue representing people in this riding,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to continue to work so hard for people.B次元官网网址�
Osborne was first elected to the B.C. Legislature in 2020, after serving as mayor of Tofino for more than seven years. She said she enjoyed getting out on the ground and door-knocking this time around. During her previous campaign in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was still in full force and she was limited by health restrictions.
B次元官网网址淚t makes a huge difference to be able to talk to people face-to-face and hear their stories,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e heard from people about all of the things they care about, from healthcare, affordable housing, affordability, the toxic drug crisis B次元官网网址攖hings that are making a big impact on peopleB次元官网网址檚 lives.B次元官网网址�
Hayduk watched the results roll in from a watch party at Port AlberniB次元官网网址檚 Boston Pizza. He said he began his journey into politics two and a half years ago.
B次元官网网址淚 started to notice a rise in homelessness and open drug use (in Port Alberni),B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 know some of the people working on the ground and they were frustrated. I started to educate myself about some of the policies that might be contributing to that. Over the last eight, nine months I had other personal experiences with friends that are either sheriffs or police, teachersB次元官网网址or me it was just one thing after the other that led to frustration."
Hayduk lived in the Alberni Valley for nearly seven years working with the BCHLB次元官网网址檚 Alberni Valley Bulldogs. He still has friends and family here. Hayduk said he and his family return to the riding B次元官网网址渜uite often.B次元官网网址� Hayduk, whose career up to now has been with hockey in various capacities, says he transitioned out of the sport in August. This is his first foray into politics.
B次元官网网址淚 stepped up because I didnB次元官网网址檛 think the riding has been getting a fair representation and respect since about 2015," he said. B次元官网网址淧eopleB次元官网网址檚 lives have been significantly impacted over the last four years. I donB次元官网网址檛 think I was prepared to hear some of the stories at the doors.B次元官网网址�
Hayduk said the experience has been positive, and he was met with more support than he anticipated in what he called an B次元官网网址淣DP stronghold.B次元官网网址� He congratulated Osborne on a "well-run" campaign.
Ross Reid, running for the B.C. Greens, said he was happy with the overall results of the election even though he finished a distant third in the riding. "Provincially, we've done a good thing with a minority holding the balance apart from the major parties."
He said while he respects Josie Osborne and thinks she "is going to continue to do great things for the riding," he wants to hold her accountable. Reid lives in Ucluelet, where there is "a massive wealth gap" between the tourists and people with second homes who can afford to live there, and the working class. He says Osborne has neglected a large part of the working class in the riding who are struggling with housing and other issues such as the toxic drug crisis and crime, particularly in Port Alberni and the east side of Vancouver Island.
"She really needs to look at the ramifications of the model she's created...We need to get back to a place where the average working person can afford a home," he said. "There's been so much focus on keeping the rich rich, and ticking the boxes on the lower classes. She needs to put more effort into addressing social inequality."
Provincial results were still rolling in on Saturday night, with the race too close to call. Osborne says that if the B.C. NDP says forms government again, theyB次元官网网址檒l be B次元官网网址渞ight back at work, right away.B次元官网网址� But she wasn't too surprised to see that it was a tight race.
B次元官网网址淭hings are tough for a lot of people out there, and sometimes in that case, people are looking for change,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut I think people see that weB次元官网网址檙e heading in the right direction.B次元官网网址�
The 2024 Student Vote this year elected a B.C. NDP minority government, with the B.C. Conservative Party forming the official opposition. In Mid Island-Pacific Rim, students re-elected Osborne.
But at Alberni District Secondary School in Port Alberni, the 2024 Student Vote was won by the Conservatives, with Hayduk receiving 262 votes compared to OsborneB次元官网网址檚 168 votes. Reid received 111 votes from ADSS students.
"I found that debate at the high school extremely rewarding," Hayduk said. "It was great to see how tough the questions were.
" I think what you're going to see is that more younger people in the elections coming up will be more engaged."
