• Christy Clark’s BC Liberals have won a minority government.
• The balance of power will be held by the B.C. Greens, a remarkable breakthrough that will give the party and its Leader Andrew Weaver an outsized role in the legislature. Mr. Weaver will be joined in the provincial capital by Adam Olsen and Sonia Furstenau.
• The NDP won Courtenay-Comox by just nine votes. If that flips in a recount the Liberals would hold a majority.
• Absentee ballots won’t be counted until May 22-24, which could alter the results in Courtenay-Comox and other close ridings.
• The prospect of a minority government had been evident for weeks in a close election race, though Mr. Weaver was careful not say which party he would support in that situation.
• B.C. last elected a minority government in 1952; the Social Credit government led by W. A. C. Bennett fell the following year and was re-elected with a majority.
• Clark would be given the first chance to form a government.

The speeches

Christy Clark: “Tonight, we won the popular vote, and we have also won the most seats,” Ms. Clark told supports at a BC Liberal Party gathering in downtown Vancouver. “And with absentee ballots still to be counted, I am confident that they will strengthen our margin of victory. So is my intention to continue to lead British Columbia.”

John Horgan: “British Columbians have waited 16 years for a government that works for them. I am going to have to ask you to wait a little bit longer until all the votes are counted and the final results of this election are known,” Horgan told supporters in a brief speech. “This is what we do know: A majority of British Columbians voted for a new government.”

Andrew Weaver: “What a historic day for British Columbia. People across British Columbia have shown that they are ready for politics to be done differently,” Weaver said as he addressed supporters in Victoria. “In the days ahead there will be plenty of discussions taking place between all parties. Now is not the time for those discussions, now is the time for Greens across North America to celebrate.”

Notable riding winners

Adam Olsen, Greens, Saanich North and Islands: In the 2013 provincial election, Adam Olsen came in third, losing by about 400 votes. This time around, the two-term Central Saanich councillor coasted past his NDP and Liberal rivals to secure the seat for Sananich North and the Islands. Mr. Olsen is half indigenous, which he says gives him “a unique ability to bring diverse voices together.”

Selina Robinson, NDP, Coquitlam-Maillardville: Selina Robinson was elected in 2013 by a margin of just 41 votes. This time around, the therapist and youth addictions counsellor won a comfortable victory. Ms. Robinson most recently served as the NDP’s critic for mental health and addictions.

Ravi Kahlon, NDP, Delta North: Ravi Kahlon, a national field hockey player who has represented Canada in the Olympics twice, defeated Liberal incumbent Scott Hamilton to take the battleground riding of Delta North. Mr. Kahlon says his focus is on families – improving B.C.’s education system, health and seniors care.

Jas Johal, Liberals, Richmond-Queensborough: Jas Johal worked as a reporter for Global TV for two decades, leaving in 2014 to take a position as communications director for the B.C. LNG Alliance, which represents seven groups seeking to export liquefied natural gas from B.C. This is his first foray into politics.

The key issues

Housing: The Liberals didn’t make any new promises to address the housing market. They already introduced a 15-per-cent foreign buyers tax and a loan program for first-time home buyers. The NDP said they would create more affordable housing as well as creating more protections for renters. The Greens promised to double the foreign buyers tax to 30 per cent, and apply it province-wide.

Economy: The Liberals ran on a platform hailing their economic performance, including a balanced budget and strong GDP growth. The NDP, meanwhile, said they would increase the province’s minimum wage to $15 per hour. The Greens promised to boost disability assistance rates. Both the Liberals and NDP pledged financial support to the emerging tech sector.

Medical Service Plan: B.C. is the only province that charges citizens monthly health-care premiums. The Liberals are promising to reduce MSP rates for some, as well as eventually phasing out the premiums at an unspecified date. The NDP said it would cut premiums in half, and the Greens said they would eliminate them.

Environment: The Liberals support the expansion of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline, while the NDP and Greens both oppose it. Clark supports the construction of the Site C Dam, while Weaver opposes it and Horgan is promising to review the project if elected.

Cash-for-access: The Liberals have returned nearly $250,000 in improper donations following a Globe and Mail investigation that revealed lobbyists were making contributions before being reimbursed by clients. Clark has also come under fire for inaction on fundraising laws, which place no limits on contributions. She’s now promising to appoint a panel to review the rules. The NDP and Greens want a ban on corporate and union donations.

With a report from The Canadian Press