The BC United party suffered another loss Wednesday, as a hopeful MLA running for the party on the Sunshine Coast confirmed he is defecting to the Conservatives.
Chris Moore is joining John Rustad and the BC Conservatives in trying to turn the NDP strong-hold blue. In a statement confirming his move, Moore explained he believes Rustad and the Conservatives “are the only way we can get BC back on track.”
“I have always cared deeply about the issues that the community of Powell River – Sunshine Coast is facing,” said Moore.
“We have such a beautiful province that shouldn’t be strangled by soaring taxes, ballooning provincial debt, and a government that is willing to accept the status quo. I am excited to be joining the BC Conservative Team and look forward to working with John Rustad to clean up the mess the NDP have made.”
Before Moore and Rustad made the move official, BC United took to social media to announce Moore’s move from the party.
“Chris had fundamental differences with BC United in terms of not competing against the BC Conservatives and defending BC United from criticisms levied by political opponents,” BCU said on X.
“Additionally, Chris felt that BC United releasing factual information on extremist candidates within John Rustad’s BC Conservatives would hurt his chances of winning his own seat, which has been held by the NDP since 2005.”
Moore’s move is just the latest in a string of defections from BC United to the Conservatives.
One day after a high-ranking former BC United MLA Elenore Sturko defected to the BC Conservatives, the official opposition lost another candidate in the upcoming provincial election. Brandon Fonseca, who was set to run for BCU in the riding of Coquitlam-Maillardville, announced his defection on June 4. Sturko’s decision to defect followed a similar decision by United Caucus Chair Lorne Doerkson.