Just a handful of votes has left B-C with its first minority government since 1952. The Liberals won 43 ridings in yesterday’s election — just one short of their fifth consecutive majority. The New Democrats ended up with 41 ridings — including Courtenay Comox where the party candidate won by just nine votes. The Green Party won a record three seats — leaving it with the balance of power in the B-C legislature for the first time in history. The Liberals won 40.8 per cent of the popular vote, compared with 39.9 per cent for the N-D-P and 16.7 per cent for the Greens.