NDP majority confirmed

UPDATE: 2:45 p.m.

BC Conservative candidate Kristina Loewen will represent Kelowna Centre in the provincial election.

Loewen was confirmed the winner by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Alison Beames Friday afternoon following a two-day judicial recount of all 25,783 votes cast.

The recount found two additional votes for Loewen and one new vote for independent Michael Humer.

The remaining numbers stayed the same.

The final tally showed Loewen with 11,033 votes, 40 more than NDP challenger Loyal Wooldridge.

Justice Beames applauded the hard work of the dozens of counters and scrutineers who counted each ballot by hand over nearly two full days.

"I appreciate your patience," said Beames.

There is still a two day period where the recount can be appealed, however that is unlikely.

If there is no appeal, the result will be certified by Beames at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Ironically, Loewen is scheduled to be sworn in along with her fellow BC Conservative MLAs on Tuesday.

NDP MLAs will be sworn in Wednesday.

ORIGINAL 1:52 p.m.

The British Columbia New Democrats have a majority government of 47 seats after a recount in the riding of Surrey-Guildford gave the party's candidate 22 more votes than the provincial Conservatives.

Confirmation of victory for Premier David Eby’s party comes nearly three weeks after election night when no majority could be declared.

Garry Begg of the NDP had officially gone into the recount yesterday with a 27-vote lead, although British Columbia's chief electoral officer had said on Tuesday there were 28 unreported votes and these had reduced the margin to 21.

There are ongoing recounts in Kelowna Centre and Prince George-Mackenzie, but these races are led by John Rustad's B.C. Conservatives and the outcomes will not change the majority status for the New Democrats.

The Election Act says the deadline to appeal results after a judicial recount must be filed with the court within two days after they are declared, but Andrew Watson with Elections BC says that due to Remembrance Day on Monday, that period ends at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Eby has said his new cabinet will be announced on Nov. 18, with the 44 members of the Opposition caucus and two members from the B.C. Greens to be sworn in Nov. 12 and the New Democrat members of the legislature to be sworn in the next day.