B.C. has voted for change, and I’m cautiously optimistic about what comes next. I wanted a change from the NDP, but I still have concerns about the direction of today’s Conservative movement. Lorne Doerkson now has an opportunity to earn my confidence by governing for everyone in this province and building on what’s working. Here’s my take on the election and what I hope comes next.

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Well, British Columbia voted yesterday, and the Conservatives won by a landslide. I’m OK with that, although getting to that point hasn’t been particularly comfortable.

I wanted a change from David Eby and the NDP. What I struggled with was finding an alternative I felt confident supporting. Wanting a government out doesn’t automatically mean you’re comfortable with the people waiting to replace it, and that’s where I found myself during this election.

Now, Lorne Doerkson has led the Conservatives to a strong majority, bringing the party back to government for the first time in nearly a century. British Columbians have made their decision, and I’m prepared to give the new government an opportunity to show us what it can do.

That doesn’t mean my concerns have disappeared.

Some of what passes for conservatism today sits considerably further to the right than I’m comfortable with. I can support responsible spending and a government that makes it easier to do business. I have a much harder time with politicians who seem more interested in fighting cultural battles than dealing with the problems people actually face.

Doerkson’s background with the BC Liberals gives me some hope that he will govern closer to the centre. It isn’t a guarantee, but I’m cautiously optimistic that he understands the responsibility he’s taking on and will bring a steady hand to the job.

I want this government to succeed. This is my province, and its success matters far more to me than which party gets the credit.

I also hope the Conservatives recognize that the NDP getting voted out doesn’t mean everything they did was wrong. Where a policy is working, keep it. Where something needs fixing, explain the problem and make the changes. Scrapping worthwhile work simply because it belongs to the previous government would serve nobody.

There needs to be some balance here. We can make room for growth without treating public services as an inconvenience. We can question government spending without assuming every public dollar is wasted.

I’m also hoping Doerkson will work constructively with Mark Carney and his fellow premiers. We have enough uncertainty coming from south of the border without adding unnecessary fights among ourselves. Disagreements will happen, but I expect our leaders to be able to work through them without turning every meeting into a confrontation.

My biggest concern remains the people within the Conservative movement who appear drawn to MAGA-style politics. I don’t want their grievances setting the direction of this government, and I expect Doerkson to keep that firmly in check.

I’ve had enough of watching Donald Trump govern as though only the people who support him deserve consideration. A majority government still has a responsibility to the people who voted against it. That includes listening when they raise legitimate concerns.

So yes, I see possibilities in yesterday’s result. The Conservatives have a clear mandate and an opportunity to earn the confidence of people who remain uncertain about them, myself included.

What I want now is a government whose decisions we can understand and whose direction we can reasonably predict. People should be able to plan their lives without wondering what political upheaval is coming next.

I’m willing to begin with cautious optimism. Whether that confidence grows will depend on how Lorne Doerkson governs.

I hope he gives us good reason to believe we made the right choice.