Whiteside named B.C. NDP interim leader

Jennifer Whiteside became interim leader of the B.C. NDP on Thursday after the party’s depleted caucus backed her unanimously at a five-hour meeting at the legislature in Victoria, The Canadian Press reported.

Whiteside, the outgoing labour minister who was re-elected in New Westminster-Coquitlam on Saturday, said the result was “deeply, deeply humbling” and not something she was necessarily expecting. By taking the interim role, she is excluded from running for the permanent leadership.

The caucus gathered after the party’s election loss to the B.C. Conservatives, who won a majority in the snap vote on Oct. 24. Preliminary results give the Conservatives 63 seats, the NDP 28 and the Greens two, with a handful of ridings still pending. Official certification of the results is not due until Nov. 18.

Whiteside said Mike Farnworth will serve as house leader and Niki Sharma as caucus chair. She said an interim leader was needed in case premier-designate Lorne Doerkson recalls the legislature for a sitting before Christmas. “We need to be ready to go,” she said.

Outgoing Premier David Eby, who stepped down as NDP leader on election night, did not attend the meeting. Sharma and fellow former minister Ravi Parmar said Eby apologized to the outgoing caucus on Wednesday for calling the election two years early.

“Clearly it was a mistake,” Sharma said, adding that Eby “took full responsibility.” Parmar said the party “got it wrong” and owes British Columbians an apology. Asked how frustrated the caucus was, he rated it “about 10.”

Both Sharma and Parmar left open the possibility of seeking the permanent leadership. Sharma said it was not a day for personal ambitions, and Parmar said it was too early to say. Neither would say whether anyone in caucus pushed back on the election call, citing confidentiality.

Whiteside has served as minister of education and as minister of mental health and addictions. The party will sit as the official Opposition. For more on the new government’s agenda, see what the B.C. Conservatives promised on taxes, housing, LNG and DRIPA, and how the Greens held two seats.

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Source: The Canadian Press, Oct. 29, 2026.