B.C. United intends to run some candidates to keep party status
CBC
Some voters might still see B.C. United on the ballot for the upcoming provincial election despite recently halting its "full provincewide" campaign.
Lindsay Cote, executive director of B.C. United, told members Friday it still intends to run a select number of candidates in the Oct. 19 election to make sure the party is not deregistered.
"I want to reiterate that we have simply suspended the full provincewide B.C. United campaign for this upcoming provincial election," Cote said in the letter.
"This does not fold our party or erase our organization," she said. "Our intent is to ensure that following the October 2024 election, we will be able to have a thorough discussion with our membership about the future of B.C. United. If there is a desire within our membership to rebuild the party, and a plausible path to do so, we want to be in a position to act on this."
B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon announced last week he was suspending the campaign and withdrawing the party's candidate nominations and instead urging support for the Conservatives to prevent a vote-split that would help the New Democrats win re-election.
B.C. United MLA Karin Kirkpatrick told CBC News the party has expenses and financial commitments to pay. She pointed out that by running some candidates and winning a certain percentage of the votes, the party could be eligible for the $1.81 per vote subsidy from Elections B.C.
"It seems ridiculous but in some ways it would be irresponsible — because of their financial obligations — not to run candidates and risk not getting that money back from Elections B.C.," she said.
But with just over two weeks until the start of the election campaign, it's still unclear how many of its candidates will stand and in which ridings.
Hamish Telford, a political science professor at the University of the Fraser Valley, said this question is likely to be a challenging one for B.C. United. Following the party's collapse, some candidates have gone with the B.C. Conservatives or decided to run as Independents, while others are retiring altogether.
"Who wants to come back and be the sacrificial lamb?" Telford said.
"Good luck to Kevin Falcon recruiting some people. Maybe he should step up and be one of the candidates in his own riding, show some leadership here."
Meanwhile, former B.C. United candidates who are now running as Independents say they have to start collecting political donations from scratch.
"We can't even accept donations until the writ drops," said Lumby Mayor Kevin Acton, who is now running as an Independent. "I mean the party can accept donations all year round forever and ever amen."
Some also claimed the party owes them money for expenses they paid out of pocket.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
The federal and Yukon governments are putting more money toward reducing wildfire risk in the territory.
The Canadian Army is investigating members who allegedly shared what the country's top soldier called "abhorrent" content within a private Facebook group.
The Alberta Prosperity Project's new draft fiscal plan is projecting Alberta's economy could double within 20 years of separation.
Repairs to the seawall around the Charlottetown Yacht Club are almost complete, much to the relief of Island sailors, visitors and business owners in the area.
Two coal companies that sued Alberta over its decision to change the rules around coal mining have reached a settlement with the provincial government.
Sparks from an RCMP trailer are responsible for a wildfire burning near Lytton, B.C., police say.
The Inuvik Youth Centre will remain closed until late August due to financial constraints. The centre closed its doors in March and stopped its programming.
Now that Bill C-5 is the law of the land, Prime Minister Mark Carney says "the real work begins" to fast-track major projects. Here's what comes next — and what experts say needs to happen.
The Calgary Stampede is saddling up for 10 days of action, kicking off Friday as the 113th annual Stampede Parade winds its way through downtown Calgary.
The mother of a toddler who was missing for more than three days last month is facing a second charge in connection with the disappearance of her daughter.
A well-known Toronto television personality says she's reached a settlement with Bell Media in response to a human rights complaint, in which she alleged "a systemic pattern" of racism, sexism and discrimination.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in Middlesex County say Highway 402 westbound near Strathroy remained closed Thursday after a serious crash between a tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle led to a chemical spill.
Durham police say they are investigating a violent swarming caught on security video that one prominent Muslim advocacy group says may have been motivated by hate.