John Rustad, leader of the British Columbia Conservatives, began forming a new provincial government on Tuesday, days after his party won a decisive two-thirds majority in the legislature. The victory defeated David Eby's NDP and ended nearly a decade of their rule. Rustad met with Lieutenant Governor Wendy Cocchia to begin the transition in Victoria.

The Conservatives captured a commanding majority in the 93-seat legislature, sweeping ridings in Surrey, the Interior and parts of Vancouver Island. The outcome forced Eby to concede defeat on election night.

Rustad signalled that his early priorities would include rolling back the provincial carbon tax, expanding resource development and reviewing drug policy—pledges that anchored his campaign. He told supporters the mandate gave his party room to move quickly on legislation once cabinet is named.

The NDP began searching for an interim leader after Eby's loss, with the caucus expected to meet this week to manage the transition to opposition. Party officials acknowledged the scale of the defeat reshaped B.C.'s political landscape and left the Greens as a diminished third force.

University of British Columbia political analysts noted that the sweep handed Rustad one of the strongest mandates in recent provincial history, giving the Conservatives latitude to govern without coalition partners for a full term.