The BC Conservatives, a rising political force, have clarified that they are not engaged in official merger discussions with the BC United Party, the third-largest opposition group in British Columbia. Recent speculations about a potential coalition emerged following comments made by the leader of BC United.
Despite their surge in the polls, the BC Conservative Party remains focused on fielding their own candidates in the upcoming provincial election this fall.
Angelo Isidorou, the executive director of the Conservative Party of BC, affirmed their commitment to running 93 candidates in the upcoming election in a statement via email.
Isidorou mentioned that the Conservatives had initially tried to initiate talks with BC United in December 2023, but the response from Leader Kevin Falcon was not favorable. However, he indicated a change in the situation, stating that the Conservative Party of BC is open to all individuals interested in joining their party.
Speculation about a potential collaboration between BC United and the Conservatives arose after Falcon hinted at discussions between emissaries from both parties to explore common ground, citing the NDP government as a common adversary.
Despite Falcon’s remarks, the Conservative Party of BC clarified to The Epoch Times that no formal discussions are currently underway. Isidorou stated that while some individuals from the business community have reached out to BC United on their behalf, no merger proposition has been entertained.
The Epoch Times attempted to contact the BC United Party for their perspective but received no response at the time of publication.
Likelihood of Coalition
Sanjay Jeram, a political science professor at Simon Fraser University, expressed that it is premature for the parties to consider a merger at this stage. Jeram suggested that the parties might be contemplating a confidence-and-supply agreement similar to the one between the federal NDP and Liberals in case of a minority government scenario.
Jeram noted that based on recent statements from both leaders, the possibility of a coalition is low, as they have already nominated a significant number of candidates. He opined that a more flexible arrangement could be in the works to navigate a potential minority situation.
He highlighted that neither leader seems inclined to explore a path that could lead to their removal as party leaders, indicating potential reluctance, particularly from Falcon’s end.
Rocky History
Another obstacle to a political alliance is the history between Falcon and Conservative Leader John Rustad. Falcon had previously expelled Rustad from BC United in 2022, leading to Rustad’s subsequent involvement with the Conservatives.
Support for the Conservatives has been on the rise, with recent polls indicating a significant increase in their popularity compared to BC United and the NDP.
The provincial election in British Columbia is scheduled for Oct. 19, setting the stage for a dynamic political landscape in the coming months.
Isaac Teo contributed to this report.
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