Conservative losses in Metro Vancouver suburbs mark biggest change for B.C. in status-quo election

Did we learn anything?

It was the dominant question from coast to coast on election night Monday, as a campaign that began with many wondering why it was necessary ended with almost the exact results as the 2019 election. 

"It reflects a certain degree of ambivalence," said University of British Columbia political scientist Gerald Baier, after the Liberals were left with another minority government. 

Which meant, once again, that British Columbia was mostly on the sidelines, the fate of the next parliament mostly known by the time votes beyond the Rockies were counted. 

But while little changed in the big picture, there were small differences that are worth noting as the province's political map changes once again.

To start with, the Conservatives failed to make inroads in Metro Vancouver — in fact, quite the opposite. 

The party lost Cloverdale-Langley City, Port Moody-Coquitlam, and both Richmond ridings. They declined in support in four of the five Surrey ridings. Middle-class, suburban, multicultural ridings, key to the Harper government's victories earlier this decade, slipped further away, despite the party's best efforts.