Causes
![](../I/m/BC_byelections_by_cause.PNG)
By-elections by cause, 1871–2008
A by-election occurs whenever there is a vacancy in the Legislative Assembly. Vacancies can occur for the following reasons:
- Death of a member.[1] The last time a sitting MLA died was Fred Gingell in 1999.[2] In addition, elected MLA's sometimes die before taking their seats. The last time this happened was in 1924 when John McKie died before the first session.[3]
- Resignation of a member.[1]
- Recall of a member.[1] This has never happened. However, former MLA Paul Reitsma was unofficially recalled because he resigned just as a recall attempt nearly succeeded.[4]
- Voided results. The last time a by-election took place for this reason was in 1904.[5] The most recent any election has come close to being voided was in 1963.[6]
- Expulsion from the legislature.[1]
- Ineligibility to sit.[1]
- Winning in more than one district during a general election. The last time that happened was in 1921.[7] It has been forbidden to run in multiple districts since 1940.[8]
- A riding being established during a parliament. The only time a by-election took place because of this was in early 1934, in Columbia.[9]
- Ministerial by-election, until the 1930s an MLA's seat was declared vacant and the occupant was required to re-offer upon being appointed to Cabinet.Such by-elections often resulted in the incumbent being acclaimed.
When there is a vacancy, a by-election must be called within six months of the Chief Electoral Officer learning of it. The only exception is when a member has been recalled. In that case, a by-election must be held with 90 days.[1]
41st Parliament 2017— present
40th Parliament 2013–2017
![](../I/m/By-Elections_To_The_40th_Parliament_of_British_Columbia_2013%E2%80%932017.svg.png)
Results by riding. Different shading indicates party strength in the riding.
39th Parliament 2009–2013
38th Parliament 2005–2009
37th Parliament 2001–2005
36th Parliament 1996–2001
* Reitsma is a former Liberal.[10]
35th Parliament 1991–1996
* Dueck is a former Socred.[11]
34th Parliament 1986–1991
33rd Parliament 1983–1986
32nd Parliament 1979–1983
The Kamloops by-election was the most recent by-election won by the governing party until 2011. During these 30 years the governing parties lost seventeen consecutive by-elections.
31st Parliament 1975–1979
30th Parliament 1972–1975
29th Parliament 1969–1972
There were no by-elections.
28th Parliament 1966–1969
27th Parliament 1963–1966
There were no by-elections.
26th Parliament 1960–1963
25th Parliament 1956–1960
22nd Parliament 1949–1952
21st Parliament 1945–1949
20th Parliament 1941–1945
19th Parliament 1937–1941
18th Parliament 1933–1937
The Columbia by-election is notable for two reasons. First, it is the only one (as of March 2008) held due to a district being created during a parliament;[9] Second, it is the last time (as of March 2008) a candidate won through acclamation.[14]
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[9]
17th Parliament 1928–1933
By-election | Date | Incumbent | Party | Winner | Party | Cause | Retained |
Columbia |
December 19, 1931 |
John Buckham |
|
Liberal |
Thomas King |
|
Liberal |
Death |
Yes |
The Islands |
February 21, 1931† |
Cyrus Wesley Peck |
|
Conservative |
MacGregor Macintosh |
|
Conservative |
Resignation |
Yes |
Fort George |
January 7, 1931 |
Frederick Burden |
|
Conservative |
Roy Alward |
|
Conservative |
Resignation |
Yes |
North Vancouver |
November 5, 1930 |
Ian Alistair MacKenzie |
|
Liberal |
Jack Loutet |
|
Conservative |
Resignation |
No |
North Okanagan |
July 2, 1930† |
William Farris Kennedy |
|
Conservative |
George Heggie |
|
Conservative |
Resignation |
Yes |
Chilliwack |
October 22, 1928† |
William Atkinson |
|
Conservative |
William Atkinson |
|
Conservative |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Dewdney |
October 22, 1928† |
Nelson Lougheed |
|
Conservative |
Nelson Lougheed |
|
Conservative |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Esquimalt |
October 22, 1928† |
Robert Pooley |
|
Conservative |
Robert Pooley |
|
Conservative |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Fort George |
October 22, 1928† |
Frederick Burden |
|
Conservative |
Frederick Burden |
|
Conservative |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Richmond-Point Grey |
October 22, 1928† |
Samuel Howe |
|
Conservative |
Samuel Howe |
|
Conservative |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Saanich |
October 22, 1928† |
Simon Fraser Tolmie |
|
Conservative |
Simon Fraser Tolmie |
|
Conservative |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Similkameen |
October 22, 1928† |
William McKenzie |
|
Conservative |
William McKenzie |
|
Conservative |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Vancouver City |
October 22, 1928† |
William Shelly |
|
Conservative |
William Shelly |
|
Conservative |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Victoria City |
October 22, 1928† |
Joshua Hinchcliffe |
|
Conservative |
Joshua Hinchcliffe |
|
Conservative |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[15]
16th Parliament 1924–1928
15th Parliament 1920–1924
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[7]
14th Parliament 1916–1920
The Vancouver City by-election was won by Mary Ellen Smith. She is the first woman to run and be elected in a provincial-level election, which was also the first one where women could vote.[16]
By-election | Date | Incumbent | Party | Winner | Party | Cause | Retained |
Alberni |
January 29, 1919† |
Richard Wallis |
|
Conservative |
Richard Burde |
|
Independent Soldier |
Death |
No |
Cowichan |
January 25, 1919 |
William Hayward |
|
Conservative |
Kenneth Duncan |
|
Unionist |
Resignation |
No |
Victoria City |
June 28, 1918 |
Harlan Carey Brewster |
|
Liberal |
Francis Giolma |
|
Soldier |
Death |
No |
Chilliwack |
May 10, 1918 |
Edward Dodsley Barrow |
|
Liberal |
Edward Dodsley Barrow |
|
Liberal |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Vancouver City |
January 24, 1918 |
Ralph Smith |
|
Liberal |
Mary Ellen Smith |
|
Independent~ |
Death |
Yes |
Alberni |
January 24, 1918 |
Harlan Carey Brewster |
|
Liberal |
Richard Wallis |
|
Conservative |
Won more than one district |
No |
Newcastle |
January 24, 1918 |
Parker Williams |
|
Independent Socialist |
James Hawthornthwaite |
|
Independent Socialist/Labour* |
Resignation |
Yes |
Similkameen |
January 24, 1918 |
Lytton Shatford |
|
Conservative |
William McKenzie |
|
Conservative |
Resignation |
Yes |
Vancouver City |
June 23, 1917† |
John Farris |
|
Liberal |
John Farris |
|
Liberal |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Victoria City |
June 22, 1917 |
John Hart |
|
Liberal |
John Hart |
|
Liberal |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Cranbrook |
January 3, 1917† |
James King |
|
Liberal |
James King |
|
Liberal |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Dewdney |
January 3, 1917† |
John Oliver |
|
Liberal |
John Oliver |
|
Liberal |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Greenwood |
January 3, 1917† |
John MacLean |
|
Liberal |
John MacLean |
|
Liberal |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Nanaimo |
January 3, 1917† |
William Sloan |
|
Liberal |
William Sloan |
|
Liberal |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Victoria City |
January 3, 1917† |
Harlan Carey Brewster |
|
Liberal |
Harlan Carey Brewster |
|
Liberal |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Prince Rupert |
January 13, 1917† |
Thomas Dufferin Pattullo |
|
Liberal |
Thomas Dufferin Pattullo |
|
Liberal |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Vancouver City |
December 21, 1916 |
Ralph Smith |
|
Liberal |
Ralph Smith |
|
Liberal |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Malcolm MacDonald |
|
Liberal |
Malcolm MacDonald |
|
Liberal |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[16]
~ 'Independent people's candidate', also endorsed by the Liberal Party.[16]
* Endorsed by the United Mineworkers of America and "organized labour generally".[16]
13th Parliament 1912–1916
12th Parliament 1909–1912
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[17]
11th Parliament 1907–1909
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[18]
10th Parliament 1903–1907
The August 16 by-election in the district of Lillooet is the last time a by-election had been held due to a voided result, as of March 2008.[5] The November 18, 1903 by-election in Vancouver City is the first by-election held[5] since political parties were introduced to the province.[14]
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[5]
9th Parliament 1900–1903
By-election | Date | Incumbent | Party | Winner | Party | Cause | Retained |
South Victoria |
July 4, 1900† |
David Eberts |
|
No Parties |
David Eberts |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Victoria City |
July 4, 1900† |
John Turner |
|
No Parties |
John Turner |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
East Kootenay North |
July 17, 1900† |
Wilmer Wells |
|
No Parties |
Wilmer Wells |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Lillooet East |
July 17, 1900† |
James Prentice |
|
No Parties |
James Prentice |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
South Nanaimo |
July 17, 1900† |
James Dunsmuir |
|
No Parties |
James Dunsmuir |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Westminster-Dewdney |
July 17, 1900† |
Richard McBride |
|
No Parties |
Richard McBride |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Nanaimo City |
February 20, 1901† |
Ralph Smith |
|
No Parties |
James Hawthornthwaite |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
n/a |
Vancouver City |
February 19, 1901 |
James Garden |
|
No Parties |
James Garden |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
Yes |
New Westminster City |
September 18, 1901 |
John Brown |
|
No Parties |
Thomas Gifford |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
No |
Victoria City |
March 10, 1902 |
John Turner |
|
No Parties |
Edward Gawler Prior |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
n/a |
North Nanaimo |
December 15, 1902 |
William McInnes |
|
No Parties |
William McInnes |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
North Victoria |
December 23, 1902 |
John Booth |
|
No Parties |
Thomas Paterson |
|
No Parties |
Death |
n/a |
Yale-West |
February 26, 1903 |
Dennis Murphy |
|
No Parties |
Charles Augustus Semlin |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
No |
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[19]
8th Parliament 1898–1900
By-election | Date | Incumbent | Party | Winner | Party | Cause | Retained |
Vancouver City |
October 15, 1898† |
Francis Lovett Carter-Cotton |
|
No Parties |
Francis Lovett Carter-Cotton |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Joseph Martin |
|
No Parties |
Joseph Martin |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Yale-West |
October 15, 1898† |
Charles Augustus Semlin |
|
No Parties |
Charles Augustus Semlin |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
West Kootenay-Nelson |
October 15, 1898† |
John Hume |
|
No Parties |
John Hume |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Alberni |
December 15, 1898 |
Alan Neill |
|
No Parties |
Alan Neill |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
Yes |
Cowichan |
December 28, 1898 |
William Robertson |
|
No Parties |
William Robertson |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
Yes |
Vancouver City |
January 25, 1899† |
Charles Edward Tisdall |
|
No Parties |
Charles Edward Tisdall |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
Yes |
Victoria City |
February 2, 1899 |
Richard Hall |
|
No Parties |
Richard Hall |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
Yes |
John Turner |
|
No Parties |
John Turner |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
Yes |
Albert McPhillips |
|
No Parties |
Albert McPhillips |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
Yes |
West Kootenay-Nelson |
February 14, 1899 |
John Hume |
|
No Parties |
John Hume |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
Yes |
East Kootenay North |
February 28, 1899 |
William Neilson |
|
No Parties |
Wilmer Wells |
|
No Parties |
Death |
n/a |
New Westminster City |
August 31, 1899† |
Alexander Henderson |
|
No Parties |
Alexander Henderson |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[20]
7th Parliament 1894–1898
* Result was voided.[21]
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[21]
6th Parliament 1890–1894
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[22]
5th Parliament 1886–1890
By-election | Date | Incumbent | Party | Winner | Party | Cause | Retained |
New Westminster City |
November 25, 1889 |
William Bole |
|
No Parties |
Thomas Cunningham |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
n/a |
Lillooet |
September 21, 1889 |
A.E.B. Davie |
|
No Parties |
Alfred Smith |
|
No Parties |
Death |
n/a |
Victoria City |
August 21, 1889 |
Theodore Davie |
|
No Parties |
Theodore Davie |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Nanaimo |
June 29, 1889† |
Robert Dunsmuir |
|
No Parties |
Andrew Haslam |
|
No Parties |
Death |
n/a |
Cariboo |
November 26, 1888 |
Robert McLeese |
|
No Parties |
Ithiel Nason |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
n/a |
Victoria |
June 30, 1888 |
Robert John |
|
No Parties |
James Tolmie |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
n/a |
Victoria City |
January 25, 1888 |
Edward Gawler Prior |
|
No Parties |
Simeon Duck |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
n/a |
Comox |
December 30, 1887 |
Anthony Stenhouse |
|
No Parties |
Thomas Humphreys |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
n/a |
Victoria City |
August 20, 1887 |
John Turner |
|
No Parties |
John Turner |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Cowichan |
April 28, 1887 |
William Smithe |
|
No Parties |
Henry Fry |
|
No Parties |
Death |
n/a |
Nanaimo |
January 3, 1887 |
William Raybould |
|
No Parties |
George Thomson |
|
No Parties |
Death |
n/a |
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[23]
4th Parliament 1882–1886
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[24]
3rd Parliament 1878–1882
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[25]
2nd Parliament 1875–1878
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[26]
1st Parliament 1871–1875
By-election | Date | Incumbent | Party | Winner | Party | Cause | Retained |
Lillooet |
November 17, 1874 |
Thomas Humphreys |
|
No Parties |
Thomas Humphreys |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
Yes |
William Saul |
|
No Parties |
William Brown |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
No |
Victoria |
February 26, 1874 |
Arthur Bunster |
|
No Parties |
William Robertson |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
n/a |
Amor de Cosmos |
|
No Parties |
William Fraser Tolmie |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
n/a |
New Westminster |
March 21, 1873† |
William Armstrong |
|
No Parties |
William Armstrong |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Comox |
January 11, 1873† |
John Ash |
|
No Parties |
John Ash |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Victoria City |
January 6, 1873† |
Robert Beaven |
|
No Parties |
Robert Beaven |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Lillooet |
December 21, 1872 |
Andrew Jamieson |
|
No Parties |
William Saul |
|
No Parties |
Death |
n/a |
Cariboo |
June 22, 1872 |
Cornelius Booth |
|
No Parties |
John Barnston |
|
No Parties |
Resignation |
n/a |
Cariboo |
February 12, 1872† |
George Anthony Walkem |
|
No Parties |
George Anthony Walkem |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
New Westminster City |
November 28, 1871† |
Henry Holbrook |
|
No Parties |
Henry Holbrook |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
Esquimalt |
November 27, 1871† |
Alexander Robertson |
|
No Parties |
Alexander Robertson |
|
No Parties |
Joined Executive Council |
Yes |
† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.[27]
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