The British Columbia Liberal Party has captured its second straight majority government, but a revived NDP seized a number of seats, including those of at least eight cabinet ministers.

On Tuesday, Gordon Campbell became the first B.C. premier to win back-to-back majorities since former Social Credit premier Bill Bennett did it back in 1983.

Gordon Campbell gives a thumbs-up to supporters in Vancouver on Tuesday after his Liberal party wins a second term. (CP photo)
Gordon Campbell gives a thumbs-up to supporters in Vancouver on Tuesday after his Liberal party wins a second term. (CP photo)

But he'll face a much stronger opposition than he did after the 2001 election, when the Liberals swept 77 of the province's 79 seats.

By early Wednesday, the Liberals were elected or leading in 46 ridings, holding about 46 per cent of the popular vote. That's a decline of about 11 per cent in the popular vote from the last poll.

The NDP, led by Carole James, was elected in 33 ridings and held 41 per cent of the popular vote – an increase of about 19 per cent.

B.C. NDP Leader Carole James speaks to supporters in Victoria on Tuesday. (CP photo)
B.C. NDP Leader Carole James speaks to supporters in Victoria on Tuesday. (CP photo)

The Green Party was unsuccessful in its attempt to make Leader Adriane Carr the first member of her party to be elected to a Canadian legislature.

The party also slipped in the popular vote to nine per cent, compared with 12 percent in 2001.

Cabinet ministers ousted

By midnight, several cabinet ministers from the last legislative session – including some in key posts – had lost their seats or were trailing.

Among their ranks were Labour Minister Graham Bruce, Human Resources Minister Susan Mary Brice and Forestry Minister Roger Harris.

The others were Joyce Murray, Brenda Locke, Wendy McMahon, Patty Sahota and Patrick Wong.

Family Services Minister Stan Hagen held a slim lead in the fight for his seat in Comox Valley by Wednesday morning.

Campbell vows to keep B.C. 'moving ahead'

Early in the evening, the premier was re-elected in his own riding of Vancouver-Point Grey, capturing more than 47 per cent of the vote.

"For the next four years, British Columbia is going to keep moving ahead," Campbell told cheering supporters in his victory speech.

"We're going to improve health care. We're going to improve education."

Campbell, who campaigned on the strength of a booming economy, also said that his government's investments in health care and education will "start to bear fruit" over the next four years.

'Historic night' for NDP

The NDP, which took only two seats in 2001, rose from the ashes under James.

By midnight, four hours after polls closed, 33 NDP candidates had been elected or were leading in their ridings.

James had said she expected the party to pick up 24 seats.

"What an amazing night. What a historic night for the NDP," a jubilant James said in a speech at NDP campaign headquarters in Victoria.

James, who won her first seat in the riding of Victoria-Beacon Hill, promised a "big change" at the legislature.

"There will be a lot more New Democrats standing strong, speaking up for their communities and holding this government accountable."

Heavy turnouts slowed results

The election results trickled in slower than expected, in part because of heavy voter turnout.

Elections B.C. told CBC News that results were delayed for two reasons. First, voter turnout was heavy Tuesday, with long lineups reported at many of the 1,500 polling stations as they closed at 8 p.m.

Elections B.C. also said the delays might stem in part from referendum and candidate ballots that have to be sorted by hand out of common ballot boxes.

The election is the first provincial or federal election in Canada to be held on a fixed date. The Liberals had made fixed-date elections a campaign promise.

Close vote on proportional representation

Voters were given the chance to replace the current first-past-the-post system with BC-STV – a form of proportional representation.

Elections B.C. told CBC News that complete results on electoral reform would be late coming. By early Wednesday, about 57 per cent had voted yes and 43 per cent voted no.

For the measure to pass, supporters would need 60 per cent of all ballots cast, as well as a simple majority in 60 per cent of the ridings.

If passed, British Columbia would be North America's first large jurisdiction to bring in proportional representation.

Elections B.C. reported that about 205,000 people voted in last week's advance polls. That's up 81 per cent from 113,000 voters who voted in the advance polls in 2001.