“This is hard, it’s really hard.”
Those were the words from BC United Leader Kevin Falcon who suspended his party’s campaign today (Wednesday) and is endorsing the Conservatives, averting a likely vote split during October’s fall election.
During a press conference in Vancouver, Falcon told the media while he and John Rustad didn’t always see eye-to-see, especially during a failed merger attempt in the spring, a tough choice needed to be made.
“This is the right thing to do for British Columbia. This is the right thing to do for that next generation of British Columbians that want to grow up in a province like we grew up in where hope and optimism were not the exception but the rule.”
“This is hard, it’s really hard and I accept all the responsibility good and bad – all of it should rest on my shoulders. That is what leadership is all about.”
Conservative Leader John Rustad stated keeping people in BC remains one of their top priorities and the only way to do that is by making life more affordable.
“When one-in-three British Columbians are thinking about leaving this province and when one-in-two youth are thinking about leaving this province, that says something very strongly about the despair this province has realized under an NDP government.”
He mentioned regardless of what your political affiliation is, making BC a better place to live remains his top priority.
“It’s not about being Conservative or Liberal or NDP or Green for that matter. It’s about standing for what is right and fighting for the average everyday person and bringing common sense change back to British Columbia.”
All BC United nominations will be withdrawn and the BC Conservatives say they will be able to recruit “from BC United’s pool of incredible incumbent MLAs and candidates.”
The BC Election is set for October 19th.
Rustad comes full circle
It’s been a whirlwind couple of years in the political game for the Nechako Lakes MLA and former longtime member of the former BC Liberals.
In August of 2022, Rustad was ousted by Falcon from the Liberal party over some controversial social media posts regarding climate change and later became an Independent in the Legislature.
Eight months later, Rustad became party leader of the Conservatives by acclimation – a move that has since shifted the political landscape in BC.
Since being appointed, Rustad has been able to cherry-pick several MLA’s from the BC United Party including Lorne Doerkson, Elenore Sturko, Bruce Banman and Tersea Wat.
In May, the Conservatives and BC United shut down a potential merger between the two parties.
Recent polls have further cemented the meteoric rise of the Tories as well as the steep fall from grace in relation to the former BC Liberals.
Last week, the latest polling numbers show the B-C Conservatives outpacing the New Democrats.
The Mainstreet Research survey showed 39% of decided voters would vote for the provincial Conservatives, while 36% would cast ballots for the NDP.
At the time, BC United was tied with the Green Party at just 10%
Only 9% of voters remained undecided.
This was a dramatic change as the NDP had an 11 point lead over the Conservatives according to an Angus Reid poll two months earlier.
As for who will be running where remains to be seen as a candidate shuffle may occur.
Prior to Wednesday’s announcement, BC United had longtime Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond seeking another term in office while PG-Mackenzie rep Mike Morris elected to retire and was replaced by Kiel Giddens as the party’s candidate for that riding.
The Conservatives countered with Rosalyn Bird to run against Bond in Prince George-Valemount while current SD 57 trustee and former board chair Rachael Weber is seeking PG-Mackenzie.
Coralee Oakes is looking to secure four more years as the MLA in the newly-formed PG-North Cariboo area. She will be opposed by Sheldon Clare who is running for the Tories.
The NDP is countering with fellow SD 57 trustee Shar McCrory in PG-Mackenzie but have yet to name a candidate in the other two local ridings.
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