MLAs wait on final count

Kamloops’ newly elected MLAs say they’re eager to get to Victoria, even though it's not yet known what role they will play.

B.C. Conservatives Peter Milobar of Kamloops Centre and Ward Stamer of Kamloops-North Thompson both claimed victory in their ridings after polls closed in Saturday's provincial election.

With several ridings across the province expected to undergo a recount due to slim margins, mail-in ballots not yet counted and the election’s final count expected to be announced next weekend, Milobar and Stamer say they’re not sure if they’ll form government or the official opposition.

Milobar said he thought his party lost out on several seats due to the number of voters that cast their ballots for independent candidates, which he called “disappointing.”

“We would have otherwise been able to form government,” he said.

“We saw some ridings flip around last election when the mail-in ballots were counted, so obviously we're hoping that is a positive result.”

Stamer said he was disappointed with the overall provincial vote. Based on advanced polls, he said he thought his Conservatives would have pulled away on Saturday.

“We should be more than 50 per cent at the polls and we're still not there yet, and I'm not sure why but I'm hoping that we can try to encourage more people to vote,” he said.

'Looking forward to it'

Milobar said he knows stranger to waiting for results, noting with more than seven years of experience in Victoria he has an idea of what to expect when he arrives.

“This is very reminiscent of the week or two after the 2017 election when I was first elected. So you know, you take things one day at a time,” he said.

In the meantime, Milobar said he’s taking some time to recharge following the election and getting his office squared away and staffed.

He said his priorities locally remain on advocating for local health initiatives and educational investments and the Kamloops-Thompson school district, but noted final results will need to be seen before he knows where he stands in Victoria.

He said Kamloops MLAs have traditionally worked together to pack a “one-two punch,” which he plans to continue with Stamer. Milobar mentioned it in while addressing supporters on Saturday, declaring himself and Stamer a new "Team Kamloops."

“I’m looking forward to it, and I think we can get a lot of good things done together,” he said.

'Gas left in the tank'

After his victory, Stamer was busy collecting his election signs the following afternoon when he spoke with Castanet Kamloops over the phone.

“It'll depend on whether we're government or official opposition, so it's kind of early to determine that because the responsibilities are totally different,” he said.

In the interim, Stamer said he’ll be busy setting up his office, hiring an executive assistant and setting some time aside to rake this leaves in his yard.

“All indications are we're going to be in Victoria possibly the first or second week of November, and just going to try to plan accordingly,” Stamer said.

It’s the former Barriere councillor and mayor’s first time in a provincial seat, and he said he’ll be relying on Milobar’s experience to help navigate his new appointment.

He said his priorities remain the same, with his attention focused on access to health care, housing and affordability and the opioid crisis, as well as making highway improvements.

“Whoever's the Minister of Transportation, I'm going to be at his desk, at his door, all the time trying to look for answers and what we can do,” he vowed.

“I’m still young, I’m only 62, I'm still in really good shape, and I think I've got a lot of gas left in the tank.”