The list of British Columbia by-elections includes every by-election held in the Canadian province of British Columbia. By-elections occur whenever there is a vacancy in the Legislative Assembly, although an imminent general election may allow the vacancy to remain until the dissolution of parliament.
Causes
A by-election occurs whenever there is a vacancy in the Legislative Assembly. Vacancies can occur for the following reasons: Death of a member, the last sitting MLA to die in office was Joan Phillip in 2026. In addition, elected MLAs sometimes die before taking their seats. The last time this happened was in 1924 when John McKie died before the first session. Resignation of a member Recall of a memberthis has never happened. However, former MLA Paul Reitsma was unofficially recalled because he resigned just as a recall attempt nearly succeeded. Voided resultsthe last time a by-election took place for this reason was in 1904. , the last election that came close to being voided was in 1963. Expulsion from the legislature Ineligibility to sit Winning in more than one district during a general electionthe last time that happened was in 1921. It has been forbidden to run in multiple districts since 1940. A riding being established during a parliamentthe only time a by-election took place because of this was in early 1934, in Columbia. Ministerial by-electionuntil 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.
43rd Parliament 2025–2026 There were no by-elections.
42nd Parliament 2020–2024 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedLangford-Juan de Fuca June 24, 2023John Horgan NDP Ravi Parmar NDP Resigned for medical reasons YesVancouver-Mount Pleasant June 24, 2023Melanie Mark NDP Joan Phillip NDPResigned for personal reasons YesSurrey SouthSeptember 10, 2022Stephanie Cadieux LiberalElenore Sturko LiberalResigned to become Canada's first chief accessibility officerYesVancouver-QuilchenaApril 30, 2022Andrew Wilkinson LiberalKevin Falcon LiberalResigned to allow newly elected BC Liberal Party leader Kevin Falcon to run in a by-electionYes
41st Parliament 2017–2020 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedNanaimoJanuary 30, 2019Leonard Krog New DemocraticSheila Malcolmson New DemocraticResigned after being elected mayor of NanaimoYesKelowna WestFebruary 14, 2018Christy Clark LiberalBen Stewart LiberalResigned to return to private life following the defeat of her governmentYes
40th Parliament 2013–2017 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedCoquitlam-Burke MountainFebruary 2, 2016Douglas Horne LiberalJodie Wickens New DemocraticResigned to run federallyNoVancouver-Mount PleasantFebruary 2, 2016Jenny Kwan New DemocraticMelanie Mark New DemocraticResigned to run federallyYesWestside-KelownaJuly 10, 2013Ben Stewart LiberalChristy Clark Liberal Resigned to create vacancy for Premier Christy ClarkYes
39th Parliament 2009–2013 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedPort Moody-CoquitlamApril 19, 2012Iain Black LiberalJoe Trasolini New DemocraticResigned to become president and CEO of the Vancouver Board of TradeNoChilliwack-HopeApril 19, 2012Barry Penner LiberalGwen O'Mahony New DemocraticResigned to return to the private sectorNoVancouver-Point GreyMay 11, 2011Gordon Campbell LiberalChristy Clark LiberalResigned to create vacancy for new premier Christy ClarkYes
38th Parliament 2005–2009 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedVancouver-BurrardOctober 29, 2008Lorne Mayencourt LiberalSpencer Herbert New DemocraticResigned to run federally in Vancouver CentreNoVancouver-FairviewOctober 29, 2008Gregor Robertson New DemocraticJenn McGinn New DemocraticResigned to become Mayor of VancouverYes
37th Parliament 2001–2005 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedSurrey-Panorama RidgeOctober 28, 2004Gulzar Cheema LiberalsJagrup Brar New DemocraticResigned to run federally in Fleetwood—Port KellsNo
36th Parliament 1996–2001 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedDelta SouthDecember 7, 1999Fred Gingell LiberalsVal Roddick LiberalsDeathYesParksville-QualicumDecember 14, 1998Paul Reitsma Independent*Judith Reid LiberalsResignationNoSurrey-White RockSeptember 15, 1997Wilf Hurd LiberalsGordon Hogg LiberalsResignationYes
* Reitsma is a former Liberal.
35th Parliament 1991–1996 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedAbbotsfordMay 3, 1995Harry de Jong Social CreditJohn van Dongen LiberalsResignationNoVancouver-QuilchenaFebruary 17, 1994Art Cowie LiberalsGordon Campbell LiberalsResignationYesMatsquiFebruary 17, 1994Peter Albert Dueck Independent*Mike de Jong LiberalsResignationNo
* Dueck is a former Socred.
34th Parliament 1986–1991 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedOak Bay-Gordon HeadDecember 13, 1989Brian Smith Social CreditElizabeth Cull New DemocraticResignationNoCaribooSeptember 20, 1989Alex Fraser Social CreditDavid Zirnhelt New DemocraticDeathNoNanaimoMarch 15, 1989Dave Stupich New DemocraticJan Pullinger New DemocraticResignationYesVancouver-Point GreyMarch 15, 1989Kim Campbell Social CreditTom Perry New DemocraticResignationNoAlberniNovember 19, 1988Robert Skelly New DemocraticGerard Janssen New DemocraticResignationYesBoundary-SimilkameenJune 8, 1988James Hewitt Social CreditBill Barlee New DemocraticResignationNo
33rd Parliament 1983–1986 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedOkanagan NorthNovember 8, 1984Donald Campbell Social CreditLyle MacWilliam New DemocraticDeathNoVancouver EastNovember 8, 1984Dave Barrett New DemocraticRobert Williams New DemocraticResignationYes
32nd Parliament 1979–1983 Until 2011, the last by-election won by a governing party was the Kamloops by-election. During the 30 years between this parliament and 2011, the governing parties lost seventeen consecutive by-elections.
By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedKamloopsMay 14, 1981Rafe Mair Social CreditClaude Richmond Social CreditResignationYes
31st Parliament 1975–1979 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedOak BayMarch 20, 1978Scott Wallace Progressive ConservativeVictor Stephens Progressive ConservativeResignationYesVancouver EastJune 3, 1976Robert Williams New DemocraticDave Barrett New DemocraticResignationYes
30th Parliament 1972–1975 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedNorth Vancouver-CapilanoFebruary 5, 1974David Brousson LiberalGordon Gibson Jr. LiberalResignationYesSouth OkanaganSeptember 7, 1973W.A.C. Bennett Social CreditBill Bennett Social CreditResignationYes
29th Parliament 1969–1972 There were no by-elections.
28th Parliament 1966–1969 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedBurnaby-WillingdonJanuary 13, 1969Fred Vulliamy New DemocraticJames Lorimer New DemocraticDeathYesRevelstoke-SlocanJuly 15, 1968Randolph Harding New DemocraticWilliam King New DemocraticResignationYesOak BayJuly 15, 1968Alan MacFarlane LiberalAllan Cox LiberalResignationYesNorth Vancouver-CapilanoJuly 15, 1968Raymond Perrault LiberalDavid Brousson LiberalResignationYesVancouver SouthMay 21, 1968Thomas Bate Social CreditNorman Levi New DemocraticDeathNoCaribooNovember 28, 1966William Speare Social CreditRobert Bonner Social CreditResignationYes
27th Parliament 1963–1966 There were no by-elections.
26th Parliament 1960–1963 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedColumbiaJuly 15, 1963Richard Newton Social CreditFrank Greenwood Social CreditDeathYesVancouver-Point GreyDecember 17, 1962Buda Brown Social CreditPatrick McGeer LiberalDeathNoRevelstokeSeptember 4, 1962George Hobbs CCFMargaret Hobbs CCF-NDPDeathYes
25th Parliament 1956–1960 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedRossland-TrailDecember 15, 1958Robert Sommers Social CreditDonald Brothers Social CreditResignationYesDeltaSeptember 9, 1957Thomas Irwin Social CreditGordon L. Gibson Social CreditResignationYesCaribooSeptember 9, 1957Ralph Chetwynd Social CreditWilliam Speare Social CreditDeathYesBurnabySeptember 9, 1957Ernest Winch CCFCedric Cox CCFDeathYes
24th Parliament 1953–1956 Douglas Jung of the Progressive Conservative Party runs in the Vancouver Centre by-election, the first time any Chinese Canadian had run for a seat in a Canadian legislature.
By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedVancouver CentreJanuary 9, 1956George Moxham Social CreditLeslie Peterson Social CreditDeathYesLillooetSeptember 12, 1955Gordon Gibson Sr. LiberalDonald Robinson Social CreditResignationNoVictoria CityNovember 24, 1953Walter Wright Social CreditGeorge Gregory LiberalResignationNo
23rd Parliament 1952–1953 These by-elections are held under the alternative vote system, the only two times (as of March 2008) by-elections had been held using that voting system. After the next general election, the voting system would revert to first past the post in time for the next by-election.
By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedSimilkameenNovember 24, 1952Henry Francis Social CreditEinar Gunderson Social CreditResignationYesColumbiaNovember 24, 1952Richard Newton Social CreditRobert Bonner Social CreditResignationYes
22nd Parliament 1949–1952 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedEsquimaltOctober 1, 1951Charles Beard CoalitionFranklin Mitchell CCFDeathNo
21st Parliament 1945–1949 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedSouth OkanaganNovember 29, 1948W.A.C. Bennett CoalitionRobert Browne-Clayton CoalitionResignationYesRossland-TrailNovember 29, 1948James Webster CoalitionJames Quinn CCFDeathNoSaanichFebruary 23, 1948Norman Whittaker CoalitionArthur Ash CoalitionResignationYesCaribooFebruary 23, 1948Louis LeBourdais CoalitionWalter Hogg CoalitionDeathYesVancouver-Point GreyJune 24, 1946James Paton CoalitionAlbert MacDougall CoalitionDeathYesRoyal Maitland CoalitionLeigh Stevenson CoalitionDeathYesNorth OkanaganDecember 19, 1945Kenneth MacDonald CoalitionCharles Morrow CoalitionDeathYes
20th Parliament 1941–1945 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedNew WestminsterMay 10, 1945Arthur Gray CoalitionByron Ingemar Johnson CoalitionDeathYesRevelstokeJune 14, 1943Harry Johnston CoalitionVincent Segur CCFDeathNoSalmon ArmNovember 25, 1942Rolf Bruhn CoalitionGeorge Stirling CCFDeathNo
19th Parliament 1937–1941 By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause RetainedMackenzieSeptember 21, 1940John Bryan, Sr. LiberalManfred McGeer LiberalDeathYesCranbrookOctober 26, 1939Frank MacPherson LiberalArnold McGrath LiberalResignationYesVancouver CentreMay 1, 1939Fred Crone LiberalLaura Jamieson CCFDeathNoDewdneyMay 20, 1938Frank Patterson ConservativeDavid Strachan LiberalDeathNo
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; Second, it is the last time (as of March 2008) a candidate won through acclamation.