BC NDP MLA Bowinn Ma has been re-elected in the North Vancouver-Lonsdale riding.
With 17 of 18 ballot boxes counted, Ma held a large lead with 16,058 votes (64.62 per cent) compared to 8,790 (35.38 per cent) for Conservative Party candidate David Splett.
"I'm humbled that the people of North Vancouver-Lonsdale have put their trust in me again to be their MLA. I know it is a privilege and an enormous responsibility that I don't take lightly," Ma said.
Ma has been serving as the MLA for the area since May 2017, marking her third term in office.
Ma came together with other BC NDP candidates such as North Vancouver-Seymour winner Susie Chant and Sara Eftekhar, who ran for West Vancouver-Capilano, to watch the results unfold Saturday night. Cheering filled the room from campaign managers, friends and others as the preliminary votes were coming in on the screen.
When Ma's votes came in, people clapped and cheered loudly in celebration of her win.
During the campaign, some of Ma's top issues were housing affordability, improving access to health care, addressing homelessness and public safety, and advancing Indigenous reconciliation.
"My commitment to my community members will remain the same as it always has. I will be there to work for them, to fight for them, and to serve them to the best of my ability," Ma said.
Ma carries a civil engineering degree with a background in transportation engineering, serving as the Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness in the Eby government. Before becoming an MLA, she managed terminal expansion and redevelopment projects at the Vancouver International Airport, according to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia's website.
However, today marked a unique election day for voters in B.C., as an atmospheric river hit the region, with flooding across the Lower Mainland. With the circumstances, Ma says she's grateful voters still came out to cast their ballots.
"The election day was not great weather for a lot of folks, so I'm really grateful to the folks who donned their rain jacket and umbrellas and braved the storm to cast their ballots," Ma said.
There's still 2.5 hours left to get your ballot into the box! Dress for the weather and travel safely to your nearest voting station. 🗳
— Bowinn Ma (@BowinnMa) October 20, 2024
Find your nearest voting location at https://t.co/pq5qOoasHM. pic.twitter.com/ZzAJ8kjPzF
Ma says she looks forward to going back to the office soon and continuing to working for the people of her riding and the province.
"We've been receiving emails even during the election period from people who require that advocacy, so I'm looking forward to being sworn back," Ma said.
Splett did not immediately respond to a request for comment on election night.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
