The Conservative Party of British Columbia secured a majority government in a provincial election held on Saturday, marking the first time in nearly a century that the party has won control in the province. The victory represents a significant political shift following nine years of rule by the New Democratic Party (NDP). Former premier David Eby, who called the snap election two years early hoping to capitalize on opposition weakness, resigned shortly after projections confirmed the Conservative win.

The party, led by 58-year-old Lorne Doerkson, overcame internal conflicts and campaign controversies to achieve a decisive result, with initial returns showing 64 Conservatives elected, compared to 27 seats for the NDP and two for the Green Party. Doerkson’s victory places him at the helm of a province confronting economic uncertainty, pressures on its healthcare system, and the ongoing impact of a trade dispute with the United States that has affected key sectors including forestry.

Doerkson has outlined an ambitious agenda aimed at bolstering the province’s oil and gas industry. His platform includes plans to eliminate emissions limits and overhaul the existing carbon tax framework, both measures that critics warn could conflict with federal environmental regulations. He has called on major energy firms such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Woodside to increase investment in British Columbia and pledged to reduce bureaucratic obstacles to energy production.

A key component of the new government’s energy strategy is to double liquefied natural gas (LNG) production by 2032 and triple it by 2035. Doerkson also supports plans to construct a pipeline capable of transporting one million barrels of oil daily from Alberta to British Columbia, aligning with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s goal of establishing Canada as an “energy superpower.” Carney, who has faced opposition from Eby’s left-leaning NDP government on pipeline projects and coastal tanker bans, welcomed the election outcome and expressed optimism about collaborating with Doerkson to advance Canada’s energy sector beyond traditional markets.

Canada currently supplies approximately 60 percent of U.S. oil imports, most of which originate from Alberta’s massive bitumen-rich oil sands—the third largest oil reserve globally. However, trade tensions with the United States, including tariffs introduced under President Donald Trump’s administration, have led Ottawa to seek alternative export markets, particularly in Asia through British Columbia’s west coast.

The election win for the British Columbia Conservatives has sparked concerns among Indigenous groups and environmental advocates, who caution that the new government’s deregulatory approach may undermine environmental protections and clash with Indigenous rights. Doerkson’s administration will need to navigate these challenges while addressing the province’s broader economic and social issues in the months ahead.