NDP wins byelections in 2 Vancouver ridings

New Democratic candidates won both seats in Wednesday's provincial byelections in Vancouver-Burrard and Vancouver-Fairview, according to initial counts by Elections B.C.

The NDP's Spencer Herbert, a former parkboard commissioner,beat Liberal Arthur Griffithsin the formerly Liberal riding of Vancouver-Burrard after all polls had reported.

Herbert received 6,516votes whileGriffiths received 4,841 votes after all 195 polls had reported. Drina Alicia Read of theGreen Party of B.C. got686 votes.

The Vancouver-Fairview riding will remain in NDP hands after NDP candidate Jenn McGinn trumped the Liberal party's Margaret MacDiarmid, as of theinitial count in that riding.

McGinn got 5,487 votes while MacDiarmid got 4,779 votes after all 149 polls had reported. Jane Sterk of theGreen Party of B.C. got856 votes.

Elections B.C. officials said voter turnout for each riding was low, reaching only 22 per cent in Vancouver-Burrard and 26 per cent in Vancouver-Fairview.

NDP Leader Carole James said the voters have sent a clear message.

"It is time for Gordon Campbell to stop focusing on his pet projects and to start focusing on the needs of working families," she said.

Campbell said the Liberals' loss in the two byelections doesn't mean British Columbians now favour the New Democrats.

"We weren't able to overcome the 27-year tradition of government not winning byelections. We didn't win the byelection in 2004, [but] we formed government the next year," Campbell said.

"The really critical thing for us is to listen to what people say in the community [and] to respondin a positive way."

Five candidates competed in each of the two ridings. Four days of advance voting were conducted last week, bringing out a total of 2,420voters in Vancouver-Burrard and 1,797 in Vancouver-Fairview.

The Vancouver-Burrard seat became vacant when Liberal MLA Lorne Mayencourt resigned in September to run for the Conservatives in the Oct. 14 federal election. He lost to Liberal incumbent Hedy Fry by more than 5,000 votes.

The Vancouver-Fairview seat became available when New Democrat Gregor Robertson resigned to run for mayor of Vancouver in the Nov. 15 civic election.