Who is Lorne Doerkson, B.C.’s next premier?
Lorne Doerkson has been named the premier-designate of British Columbia following a surprise election victory for the B.C. Conservative Party. Doerkson, a former rodeo rider and auto dealer, unified a fractured party to secure a majority government.
Why it matters
This represents a significant political shift in Canadian provincial governance, marking the rise of the Conservative party in a region previously dominated by other political forces.
British Columbians got their best look so far at Lorne Doerkson on Saturday night, their premier-designate , and self-described “guy from Williams Lake.”
The interim B.C. Conservative leader delivered a rollicking victory speech as he revelled in a sweeping majority win, secured in a snap provincial election called by outgoing Premier David Eby in a disastrous political miscalculation.
Doerkson had emerged from obscurity to unify a fractured Opposition that was a political basket case just six weeks ago. The party had seen waves of defections under former leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay.
The former bronco rider said he knew all about coming back from indignity.
“I have watched a lot of people get thrown at a rodeo and I’ll say I’ve been thrown a few times myself,” Doerkson said.
“But what I’ve learned, what I have learned from that (is) you pick up yourself, dust yourself off and you get back on.”
Also covering this story
3 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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