BC Conservative Leader John Rustad, left, and BC United Leader Kevin Falcon arrive for a news conference in Vancouver, on Aug. 28.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Mike Bernier was sitting in BC United Leader Kevin Falcon’s office in the legislature Wednesday afternoon when text messages from the media started coming in. They had heard rumblings that his party would suspend its campaign and wanted to know if it was true.
The Peace River South MLA and forestry critic, who was in Victoria for a policy announcement with Mr. Falcon one day earlier, initially dismissed the rumours. A journalist insisted he should look into it. (Mr. Falcon was not in the office at the time.)
“I talked to a couple of my colleagues; they didn’t know anything, so we called an emergency caucus meeting and said, ‘What the hell is going on? Let’s get Kevin in here,’ ” Mr. Bernier told The Globe and Mail in an interview on Thursday.
“We finally got him on, basically five minutes before his announcement, and he said, ‘We’ve got a deal. I’m really sorry. This was the right thing to do. I’ll be making an announcement, so just stay tuned.’ It was basically that fast.”
In a stunning news conference, Mr. Falcon stood alongside BC Conservative Leader John Rustad and confirmed that the once-dominant centre-right party would indeed end its campaign ahead of the Oct. 19 provincial election. Nominations of BC United candidates would be withdrawn, opening the door for some of them to run as Conservatives.
Mr. Falcon directed supporters to unite behind Mr. Rustad, whom he had ejected from the BC United caucus two years earlier over social-media posts questioning the link between carbon dioxide and climate change.
Gary Mason: By suspending BC United’s campaign, Kevin Falcon upends the province’s political scene
BC United caucus members who had pushed for months for some sort of a partnership to defeat the BC NDP were told that no such deal would happen, and were blindsided. Instead, they had turned to highlighting the BC Conservatives as an extreme party with unacceptable views on issues such as climate and sexual orientation and gender identity.
“I can imagine if I was in the NDP strategy room right now, they have a war chest of ammunition against everybody who’s running against them now,” Mr. Bernier said.
The move shocked BC United MLAs, leaving many incumbents and candidates in the dark about their political futures. Some felt angry and betrayed at the abrupt nature of the announcement; others were relieved that there was now a resolution to the anticipated vote-splitting that would have more easily returned the NDP to government.
The two party leaders said they would work to put together the best possible slate of candidates, likely replacing some Conservatives with former BC United candidates, but provided few details on how that process will play out and when it might be finished.
On Thursday, high profile BC United MLAs Todd Stone and Shirley Bond announced they would withdraw from the coming election; Mr. Stone endorsed the BC Conservative candidate in Kamloops-North Thompson, Barriere mayor Ward Stamer. Mr. Bernier said he would likely run as an independent.
Karin Kirkpatrick, BC United MLA for West Vancouver-Capilano, had not intended to seek re-election but said she was so angry at Wednesday’s development, and worried for the future of the centre right, that she may reconsider.
“I just don’t know what that’s going to look like, and I haven’t made that decision yet. This might be pulling me back in because I am that upset,” she told The Globe, adding that her socially progressive views wouldn’t likely find a home with the Conservatives.
Markus Delves, BC United candidate for Abbotsford South, learned the news when a constituent advised him to check social media. He said he has not yet spoken with the BC Conservatives.
“I certainly am open to political opportunities in the future, should they arise,” he said.
Ben Stewart, BC United MLA for Kelowna-West, who is not seeking re-election, learned of the party’s collapse during an unrelated Zoom meeting Wednesday when a staffer handed him a news release.
He noted the confusion that followed the rebranding of the BC Liberals to BC United, and the BC Conservatives benefiting from the popularity of the federal Conservatives, and said he believes Mr. Falcon did the right thing.
“The situation is not easy,” he said. “It’s difficult on staff. We’ve got thousands of campaign volunteers who have been out on the doorsteps, doing all sorts of events and stuff like that. It’s very unfortunate.”
Renee Merrifield, BC United MLA for Kelowna-Mission, said she had heard rumblings of what might occur and learned definitively at the emergency caucus meeting on Wednesday. She said she felt sadness knowing that many candidates will not proceed, but also relief at a united right.
Premier David Eby “has prepared his whole entire campaign based on BC Cons being wingnuts, and if John does things right, he’ll bring in enough BC United that will dilute and replace some of that tenor within the party and will come out as a strong, united right-of-centre alternative to the NDP,” Ms. Merrifield said.
“And if he has enough bench strength, it will also be ready to govern on day one, which is an incredible feat.”