B.C. NDP picks Jennifer Whiteside as interim leader after election defeat
Politics · The Canadian Chronicle
Published Friday, October 30, 2026 · 2 min read
The British Columbia NDP caucus chose Jennifer Whiteside as the party's interim leader on Thursday, October 29, at its first meeting at the legislature since the October 24 provincial election. The recommendation was unanimous. Whiteside said she was "very pleased and very humbled" by the choice. Outgoing leader David Eby was not present for the selection.
The election result
Elections BC's preliminary count gives the B.C. Conservatives 63 seats with 862,688 votes (48.06 per cent), the NDP 28 seats with 670,811 votes (37.37 per cent), and the Greens 2 seats with 196,896 votes (10.97 per cent), in a 93-seat legislature where 47 seats form a majority. Eby called the snap election on September 22 and announced his resignation as leader in his October 24 concession speech. In his farewell letter he congratulated Lorne Doerkson as British Columbia's next premier. The NDP becomes the Official Opposition. The final count is scheduled for November 6 to 10.
Whiteside's record
Whiteside is a three-term MLA for New Westminster–Coquitlam and a former labour leader. She has served as Minister of Labour, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and Minister of Education and Child Care. Mike Farnworth will serve as House leader and Niki Sharma as caucus chair. The party moved before the final count so it would be ready when the legislature returns.
Sources
CBC News, October 29, 2026; Elections BC preliminary results, October 2026.