Talk:2024 British Columbia general election/Archive 1
| This is an archive of past discussions about 2024 British Columbia general election. Do not edit the contents of this page. If you wish to start a new discussion or revive an old one, please do so on the current talk page. |
| Archive 1 |
The BC Conservatives now have a seat, should we add them to the infobox?
John Rustad has crossed the floor to sit as a BC Conservative. In the past we have included parties in the infobox if they have a seat in the legislature/parliament. Recent examples are the federal Greens (2011, 2015, and 2021) and People's Party (2019). We also included New Blue and Ontario Party in the infobox for the 2022 Ontario general election article prior to the election (though they were subsiquently removed when they failed to win a seat or obtain 5% of the vote in the election). I have WP:Boldly added the Conservatives to the infobox. Please WP:BRD as appropriate. If you revert, I would ask you to comment out the Conservative infobox fields instead of removing them entirely, while we discuss. Thanks.--Darryl Kerrigan (talk) 23:47, 16 February 2023 (UTC)
Main article picture
Kevin Falcon's picture leads the article, and he is the opposition leader today. David Eby is the Premiere of BC, and his picture should be at the top of the page. 72.74.55.241 (talk) 18:55, 28 February 2023 (UTC)
- Eby's picture is first, so not sure what the issue is. —Joeyconnick (talk) 22:12, 28 February 2023 (UTC)
- @Joeyconnick no Falcon's picture is the main page photo. It should be replaced with Eby's. 72.74.55.241 (talk) 19:47, 19 March 2023 (UTC)
- @Joeyconnick It is on the mobile version, you are correct it is not on the desktop version. 72.74.55.241 (talk) 19:56, 19 March 2023 (UTC)
- This is a fairly common oddity around the wiki, and as far as I can tell, it's something to do with the software — not an editor's decision. I really have no idea what causes the wiki software to choose which image to use as the preview and I'm not sure there's anything we can do to fix it on our end. — Kawnhr (talk) 22:26, 19 March 2023 (UTC)
BC United Colour
Looks like we have two to choose from between teal and pink. My preference would be teal to match the BC Legislature diagram. TDK1881 (talk) 05:09, 14 April 2023 (UTC)
- This is being currently discussed in a couple of places: Template talk:Canadian party colour and Talk:British Columbia United. — Kawnhr (talk) 16:09, 14 April 2023 (UTC)
Polls from Angus Reid
I am unable to find some polls to find the polls in graphs (november 2020 and March 2021) Braganza (talk) 06:07, 12 April 2023 (UTC)
- For the two Angus Reid polls in the table for Nov 2020, both sets of numbers come from subsets of the same poll, as seen in the detailed results: http://angusreid.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020.12.09_Province_Spotlight-PR-Tables.pdf
- The difference comes from using "currently support" and "likely to support." I suggest we use the numbers they chose to publish in their main November report, and ignore their numbers in past vote intent graphs. What a mess! Lilactree201 (talk) 10:00, 18 December 2023 (UTC)
- Which ones did they publish? "Currently" or "Likely"? —Joeyconnick (talk) 18:22, 18 December 2023 (UTC)
- "Currently" Lilactree201 (talk) 02:14, 19 December 2023 (UTC)
- Which ones did they publish? "Currently" or "Likely"? —Joeyconnick (talk) 18:22, 18 December 2023 (UTC)
new map issues
hi Talleyrand6
Truncation: the right side of the image is truncated in the thumbnail and full view as seen here.
Contrast: the current very light grey colour of the ridings make distinguishing the white riding borders very difficult. The previous image used a much darker grey where this wasn't an issue.
Additionally, I would set the initial values at "0.0%"... we don't format zero values with double digits. You can also save visual space by removing the "BC" in front of every party name since the image is clearly about BC (i.e. just "New Democratic" "United" "Conservative" "Green").
Finally, per MOS:ABBR and sentence case, the title should be "2024 BC general election" and subsequent heads should be:
- "93 seats in assembly"
- "47 for majority"
And the "Vote %" should have a space between "vote" and "%". —Joeyconnick (talk) 22:53, 21 March 2024 (UTC)


- It seems another issue affecting this is the decision to use teal for BC United at Template talk:Canadian party colour/Archive 3#RfC: British Columbia United. That was also discussed at Talk:BC United#Colour. While I was in the camp advocating pink, we seemed to have lost the argument. If we are going to switch to pink, some discussion is likely required.--Darryl Kerrigan (talk) 23:01, 21 March 2024 (UTC)
Yes, the legend is cut off on the right side of the map we are currently using in the article (Option 2). Perhaps we should revert to the Option 1 map, at least until these issues raised by Joeyconnick are resolved.--Darryl Kerrigan (talk) 19:05, 26 March 2024 (UTC)
Since this thread started it seems like the map was changed from one by Tallyrand6 to a similar one by Matthew McMullin, but I wanted to reopen the question of BC United's map colour. The Wikibox and the template are using teal, but the map still uses pink. It would be ideal to align these. --CaelemSG (talk) 2024-06-15 18:54 (UTC)
Issues Section
This section seems to be a WP:OR table relying only on party platforms and arguably no reliable sources. Furthermore, MOS:USEPROSE suggests that we should use prose not use a table for this information. Should we blow the section up and start over?-- Darryl Kerrigan (talk) 01:00, 5 April 2024 (UTC)
- Getting rid of it would be okay by me. —Joeyconnick (talk) 17:17, 5 April 2024 (UTC)
- Yes, it seems like these issues/platform sections are not included in the articles for the last few BC elections. I think it can be dealt with in a campaign section that sets out relevant details in prose.-- Darryl Kerrigan (talk) 19:12, 5 April 2024 (UTC)
- I'm not a fan of these sections; just because people use Wikipedia as an election resource doesn't mean it actually is. We should only cover issues that are flashpoints in the campaign. — Kawnhr (talk) 19:05, 5 April 2024 (UTC)
United/Conservative Merger talks
We should probably mention this somewhere. Not sure where in the article is appropriate, perhaps in a new "Campaign" section. That might be easier to do in the coming weeks, if something actually comes of it.--Darryl Kerrigan (talk) 18:42, 16 May 2024 (UTC)
Former BCU candidates
Can we add a symbol to denote former BCU candidates in the candidate list, at least until it becomes clear which ones agree to withdraw, which ones, if any, choose to run as independents and which ones, if any, end up running as Conservatives? Wellington Bay (talk) 19:16, 29 August 2024 (UTC)
- Perhaps a separate table might be more appropriate for analyzing the fate of all these candidates, as current reports suggest that the situation is quite fluid right now. We might be seeing the rise of a situation similar to what happened in Australia with their Teal independents.Raellerby (talk) 21:10, 1 September 2024 (UTC)
- The need for this table is already obvious. After doing a headcount from the information in this article, I noted how many candidates there were, and how many of those had been incumbent MLAs. It was reverted on the grounds that there were many more of both. If that bald assertion is true, we need a table showing all the nominees, with separate columns showing withdrawals, switches to other parties, and those who are continuing to campaign as independents. I don't know where to start to compile the whole story, so I'll defer this task to those who can.Raellerby (talk) 14:05, 3 September 2024 (UTC)
Here is a raw unsorted table based on all the entries made in this article, on the fate of the various BCU candidates. The only intensive verification so far is for the incumbents running. Obviously not ready for insertion in the mainspace, and corrections will be cheerfully accepted:Raellerby (talk) 19:11, 4 September 2024 (UTC)
- = Incumbent MLA
Eventual results table
With the withdrawal of BC United in favour of the Conservatives, the analytical table will have some different features. At the very least, we should probably combine the 2020 votes the Liberals and Conservatives received for comparative purposes in the election table. I can also see some wild analysis for the detailed results in other tables, but that's another topic.Raellerby (talk) 19:14, 20 September 2024 (UTC)
- For calculating swings, I think it makes sense to compare the Conservative result to the 2020 BC Liberal results (or combined BC Lib+Cons where applicable). Things get a little bit murky if BCU does run a few candidates to keep party status, though. However, if no one in the media is making these comparisons, we may not be able to due to original research.-- Earl Andrew - talk 13:55, 21 September 2024 (UTC)
- Combined figures should be OK according to WP:CALC.Raellerby (talk) 23:48, 21 September 2024 (UTC)
- I'm not talking about the math specifically, but whether or not we should be comparing the Conservative results to the Liberal results, as they're two separate parties. That choice should be based on reliable sources.-- Earl Andrew - talk 12:49, 22 September 2024 (UTC)
- Not unless the parties actually merge. We've had other situations where one party displaces a similar party - eg the Saskatchewan Party displacing the Saskatchewan Progressive Conservative Party and even though most PC MLAs and politicians joined the new party at its founding the vote change column treats the SP as a new party. This isn't a perfect analogy as the old PCs continued as a rump party and still ran a few candidates. Nevertheless until and unless there is a formal merger I think we should treat the parties as distinct. For instance if the BCU restarts itself after the election and some of the BCU MLAs running currently as independents form the BCU or Liberal caucus it would make more sense to treat the former BCUers running as independents as the BCU. Also, what about individual riding results where a BCU incumbent or former candidate is running as an independent? Take Tom Shypitka who is still a BCU MLA even though he is running as an independent - will we compare his 2024 result with his 2020 result as a BCU candidate or do we attribute his 2020 results to the Conservatives and compare the Conservative candidates 2024 result with the combined Liberal/Conservative result in 2020? I think it makes more sense not to bundle the two parties' results. Wellington Bay (talk) 14:35, 22 September 2024 (UTC)
- I think there may be a case to compare the two parties based on how BCU folded, and I think we should be comparing the parties' results if the media is also doing so. If not, then any statistical comparison would be original research. -- Earl Andrew - talk 15:58, 22 September 2024 (UTC)
- It's still going to be a much messier presentation this time, even in comparison to the Coalition elected back in 1941, 1945 and 1949. Back then, both parties were still functioning even though they ran joint candidates. This year, BCU just abandoned the campaign, and a string of 100% decreases from the previous Liberal results just does not make sense.Raellerby (talk) 08:33, 23 September 2024 (UTC)
- I think there may be a case to compare the two parties based on how BCU folded, and I think we should be comparing the parties' results if the media is also doing so. If not, then any statistical comparison would be original research. -- Earl Andrew - talk 15:58, 22 September 2024 (UTC)
- Not unless the parties actually merge. We've had other situations where one party displaces a similar party - eg the Saskatchewan Party displacing the Saskatchewan Progressive Conservative Party and even though most PC MLAs and politicians joined the new party at its founding the vote change column treats the SP as a new party. This isn't a perfect analogy as the old PCs continued as a rump party and still ran a few candidates. Nevertheless until and unless there is a formal merger I think we should treat the parties as distinct. For instance if the BCU restarts itself after the election and some of the BCU MLAs running currently as independents form the BCU or Liberal caucus it would make more sense to treat the former BCUers running as independents as the BCU. Also, what about individual riding results where a BCU incumbent or former candidate is running as an independent? Take Tom Shypitka who is still a BCU MLA even though he is running as an independent - will we compare his 2024 result with his 2020 result as a BCU candidate or do we attribute his 2020 results to the Conservatives and compare the Conservative candidates 2024 result with the combined Liberal/Conservative result in 2020? I think it makes more sense not to bundle the two parties' results. Wellington Bay (talk) 14:35, 22 September 2024 (UTC)
- I'm not talking about the math specifically, but whether or not we should be comparing the Conservative results to the Liberal results, as they're two separate parties. That choice should be based on reliable sources.-- Earl Andrew - talk 12:49, 22 September 2024 (UTC)
- Combined figures should be OK according to WP:CALC.Raellerby (talk) 23:48, 21 September 2024 (UTC)
- Agree with Wellington Bay, keep them separate. The BC Conservatives may be the new vehicle for the right-wing in the province, but it's not a clean succession. There's going to be all sorts of edge cases to argue about (as WB already pointed out), and besides that, I think it's OR to try to bash their results together. If the media draws comparisons between the BC Con results and the BC Lib results, we can always talk about this in prose. — Kawnhr (talk) 20:04, 23 September 2024 (UTC)
- If the media is comparing the data for both parties, I think we should do the same here, as it wouldn't be original research.-- Earl Andrew - talk 20:37, 23 September 2024 (UTC)
The latest reports from the Vancouver Sun indicate that BCU will not field any placeholder candidates and its staff are going to be given severance payouts as there's no likelihood of the Conservatives taking them on. Confusingly, Falcon still appears to be the leader, even in the midst of this implosion. A merger is definitely not forthcoming. I'll have to see if anything like this has ever happened anywhere else. At least this campaign is not boring. As Allan Fotheringham once said, in BC politics is entertainment.Raellerby (talk) 15:42, 24 September 2024 (UTC)
Removing BC United from the Graphic
Since BC United is not running any candidates, we should remove them from the graphic. They literally cannot receive any votes.-- Darryl Kerrigan (talk) 23:00, 8 October 2024 (UTC)
- I agree.Raellerby (talk) 17:22, 10 October 2024 (UTC)
- I have noted it out, until it can be updated.-- Darryl Kerrigan (talk) 19:32, 11 October 2024 (UTC)
Polling Graph Issue
Per the graph and table in the polling section, Mainstreet Research is the only polling firm showing a Conservative lead since October 3, with all other pollsters showing NDP leads of varying degrees. However, because Mainstreet does more polls than every other agency combined, the five-day average shows a conservative lead. Is there a way to address that? If there isn't, is there a way to at least add a disclaimer? Eric Grenier's post could be used as a source if needed: https://www.thewrit.ca/p/election-writ-1015-are-the-bc-conservatives NorthernFalcon (talk) 17:43, 17 October 2024 (UTC)
- Perhaps that could be part of a post-election commentary in that section. I'm sure that other observations will be published in the next few days to add to that, after we see how the actual results turned out.Raellerby (talk) 01:27, 20 October 2024 (UTC)