Defeated Cariboo-Chilcotin NDP candidate Charlie Wyse obtained 34.53 per cent of the votes (4,253) in the May 14 provincial election
However, he was well behind MLA-elect Donna Barnett, who took 56.44 per cent of the votes (6,952) to secure her seat in the legislature.
The BC NDP lost the provincial election, with the B.C. Liberals forming a majority government, despite the pre-election pollsters having predicted a tight race, so Wyse says any effort in the party to regroup will include a close look at what went wrong.
He explains the NDP party and its elected caucus members will take a close look at what happened in the election to glean what can be learned from that experience – provincially, regionally and locally – to apply to future elections.
“It is now very apparent that our solutions on the economy and the employment, the visions we had for British Columbia, was not received by the electorate. And, there are people who also believe the negative advertising that was used also had an effect upon election results.”
Wyse says he will leave it up to the political pundits to determine whether the latter aspect “sets the table” for a strictly positive approach in advertising for all future elections. He adds it could apply all across North America.
Meanwhile, the NDP MLAs across the province must continue their efforts under the same mandate given to the party in 2009, he notes, as the caucus has a responsibility to continue do its job as the official Opposition.
It is the role the people of the province have chosen, Wyse says, and as such, it is indisputable.
“The people have determined the NDP is the official Opposition and [it has] a very important role to play in our parliamentary system. I'm absolutely convinced the talent exists to do that job properly and efficiently.”
Wyse doesn't call his loss at the polls a personal disappointment, but he notes some are sorry to see the results.
“The electorate is always right. I've never second-guessed the electorate on what its decisions are. There are people who have worked hard on my campaign who would certainly have liked to have seen some different results.”