Green Party could again carry balance of power

She’s been in the game for a while but hasn’t yet made a huge difference in the political landscape of British Columbia.

BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau was first elected as an MLA in 2017 in Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. She’s running in the Victoria-Beacon Hill riding during this year’s election — a historic BC NDP stronghold.

The 54-year-old is a former teacher with a long history of advocacy work.

Her party has struggled to make a name for itself in this province, leaving her future in politics up in the air. However, this time, things may be different.

For much of this campaign, it’s been neck and neck between the New Democratic Party and BC Conservatives, and depending on just how tight the race is on Oct. 19, the Greens could carry the balance of power, again.

The Greens previously signed a confidence and supply agreement with the NDP in exchange for some policy concessions on environmental and social issues back in 2017.

Furstenau released the party’s 2024 election platform recently which included lofty promises like taxing the rich, ensuring everyone in this province can afford a home by either owning or renting by 2035, and there was an obvious focus on the environment.

“Climate change is a now problem. I don’t think we thought that we would see an atmospheric river, and a heat dome and the kind of wildfires we’re seeing in this province — I don’t think we imagined those would come in our lifetime,” she stated.

Long-time Green Party MLA Adam Olsen announced he won’t be running again making Furstenau the only Green incumbent seeking re-election, while dozens of other first-timers have thrown their hat in the ring.