BC United is switching up yet again on whether they’ll have a presence in the upcoming provincial election.
As of now, they won’t.
Party leader Kevin Falcon had announced on Aug. 28 that he was suspending the party’s campaign and endorsing the Conservatives.
Then, on Sept. 6, the party said it would be running some candidates, ostensibly to stay registered with Elections BC — although the party will remain registered either way until at least the next election.
Now, the party has changed its tune once again, telling members on Sept. 20 that it won’t be running anybody after all.
Longtime MLA and now independent candidate Mike Bernier says this is the right decision, but he has mixed emotions about this latest development.
“[I have] obviously been angry for the last couple of weeks on how things have transpired, the way a lot of our candidates were treated,” he said.
He says it is “heartbreaking” for those who have supported and run for the BC Liberal Party over the last couple decades.
“There was a lot of blood, sweat, and tears put into building up an amazing party that ran 16 years, running government in the province of British Columbia,” he said.
“So to go from those days of Premier Gordon Campbell, Premier Christy Clark, to now not even running a candidate, it’s a bit of an upsetting situation how it’s transpired.”
Bernier says he doesn’t blame anyone who thinks the party may be planning things as they go.
“It’s one of those things that was really not thought out well when Kevin Falcon made his announcement a few weeks ago, with what are all of the different ramifications from that announcement?,” he said.
“I really feel bad for all of the staff, not only our caucus in Victoria but our our party staff in Vancouver and those around the province, because they were caught off guard.”
Bernier says the party is now asking members not to share any material previously posted by BC United to ensure it isn’t breaking Elections BC’s rules about advertising.
“…all of the things that were bought and paid for and used under the BC United budget and fundraising cannot be used by any candidates now going to the election under Elections BC rules, because obviously the party can’t be seen as promoting or advertising for a specific candidate, since we’re not running under that party emblem anymore,” he said
The provincial election is scheduled for Oct. 19.
We have reached out to BC United for comment.