Many politicians across the province say they are now reevaluating their futures in response to Kevin Falcon’s decision to pull the BC United Party from the upcoming election.
UBC political scientist Stewart Prest points out that Falcon’s abrupt exit puts BC United MLAs in a tight spot.
“It’s just seven weeks before the the election,” he said. “To have to build a team of your own from scratch, that’s a daunting possibility.”
Prest says he anticipates that John Rustad’s Conservatives will handpick key BC United members to join their party. One of those lucky few could be Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier, who says he would join, but he hasn’t received the call yet.
Either way, he wants to be on the ballot.
“I might have been abandoned by my party, but I’m not going to abandon my constituents,” he said.
Bernier adds he would take a few days to reflect before making a final decision.
Meantime, Kelowna West MLA Ben Stewart tells 1130 News Radio that Falcon apparently broke the news to members just minutes before going public.
He says the caucus was rattled at the time, but a second meeting Thursday helped clear things up
“Once you kind of hear his side of It, the reality is that we actually needed to do something … we just could not afford to vote-split,” said Stewart.
Meanwhile, Bernier says his anger hasn’t dissipated at all. If anything, it’s gotten worse.
“I really feel like my party and the leadership has let me down, because I’ve been told everything’s fine, thanks for the work you’re doing, you’re going to win your riding,” he said.
“You know, I definitely feel like I got driven over by a bus.”
This follows the major update from both Shirley Bond and Todd Stone — two veteran MLAs — calling it quits Thursday.
Prest says we are now witnessing the human side of all this.
“We are seeing long time MLAs, who gave a lot to a party, now having to find a different way forward,” he said.