Amy Hamm: B.C.'s new rockstar premier Lorne Doerkson vows to protect property rights - National Post

Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson at his party's election party at Rocky Mountaineer Station in Vancouver. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNGArticle contentVANCOUVER — “I want our sons and daughters to grow up in a B.C. that is the envy of the world,” newly elected B.C. Premier Lorne Doerkson emphatically told an ecstatic, screaming crowd at the Rocky Mountaineer Station in Vancouver Saturday night. 

The crowd howled repeatedly throughout his victory speech, perhaps at maximum decibels when Doerkson promised to protect private property rights in the province. “I believe in the protection of private property rights and a British Columbia where parks are open to all British Columbians,” he said, pausing to let the cheering die down. (Ever since a court ruling last year recognized Aboriginal title over Richmond, there was been unease in the province over whether people actually own their property or not.)

The Conservative Party of B.C. won a majority government with a projected 64 seats. The NDP, by contrast, was reduced to 27 seats, causing outgoing Premier David Eby, who called a snap election despite holding a majority government, to resign as party leader.  

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The Conservative crowd, which began to elatedly “boo” during Eby’s broadcasted concession speech — with a small group singing “nah, nah, nah, nah, hey, hey, hey, goodbye” — switched to cheers over the news that he would step down. Moments later, Eby was no longer on anyone’s mind: Doerkson had arrived in the building.  

The room’s video feed cut to a montage of Doerkson on the campaign trail, plus the widely-shared 2021 Global News clip of the Conservative leader, then an MLA, fighting a wildfire in his riding. Again, the crowd screamed, while Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” played overhead. (“Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow, yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone…”) 

Doerkson weaved through the heavy crowd on the way to the podium, hugging or shaking hands with everyone he encountered along the way. People jockeyed to get close to the man, outstretching their hands just to touch him. Many shouted “Lorne!” as they reached for him, as though he was a rockstar inside of his own mosh pit. Pyrotechnics erupted behind him as he took the stage.  

Many strangers exhibited a sense of familiarity with everyone in the crowd. “What a night,” a man, double fisting glasses of wine, told me happily. All around, spectators were smiling, hugging, and high fiving one another.