B.C. Premier John Horgan throws support behind David Eby as next premier

B.C. Premier John Horgan is throwing his full support behind David Eby as the next premier of British Columbia.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Horgan says he will soon start the transition of power with his former Attorney General.

On Wednesday night the BC NDP executive voted in favour of disqualifying Anjali Appadurai.

1:57 Should British Columbians be comfortable with David Eby becoming the next premier?

Eby is the only qualified member in the leadership and will officially be named leader of Friday.

“It is with some excitement and some sorrow I stand with you today, to offer my full support to the last remaining candidate in the BC NDP leadership race,” Horgan said.

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“This has been a difficult road for everyone, some challenges along the way to be sure.”

There is no date yet for when Eby will be formally sworn in. The transition of power is expected to take a few weeks.

Horgan is in support the BC NDP executive’s decision to disqualify Appadurai. The premier is part of the executive council but did not attend the meeting on Wednesday.

The BC NDP would not provide any details on how many people on the executive voted for disqualification.

1:23 B.C. Premier John Horgan to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday

The entirety of the current NDP caucus is in support of Eby as leader.

“David has been one of the hardest working members of my cabinet. When I was the leader of the opposition he was the hardest working critic,” Horgan said.

“If it were not for my person health situation, I would have been happy to carry on. David has emerged not just the support of me, but the entire caucus and I would argue the overwhelming number of members who were members because of the values implanted in them over not just a few weeks but over generations.”

Eby sent a letter to BC NDP members on Thursday calling for party unity.

In the letter, Eby says Appadurai brought ‘passion and energy’ to the conversation about the critical and interconnected challenges facing B.C.

This includes the issues of climate change and environmental sustainability.

“No matter who you intended to support, for many of you, news of her disqualification will be saddening. And I know this will be particularly hard for those of you who joined specifically to support Anjali,” Eby said.

“While the leadership race is over, the conversation within our party on the issues raised by Anjali during this campaign must continue. I am committed to doing my best to earn the support of and listen to the feedback of all members — because having a strong, united NDP matters.”