Falcon ends B.C. United campaign, throws support to Conservatives

The B.C. United Partyissuspending its election campaign and encouraging supporters to joinforces with the surging Conservative Party of B.C. with the goal of uniting the right-of-centre vote, its leader said on Wednesday.

At a joint news conference,B.C. United LeaderKevin Falconconfirmed he will not be seeking re-election as an MLA as the two parties combine campaign efforts ahead of the Oct.19provincial election.

"I know that the best thing for the future of our province is to defeat the NDP, but we cannot do that when the centre-right vote is split," said Falcon.

According to the agreement, B.C. United candidate nominationswill be withdrawn to enable the Conservatives to draw from B.C. United's pool of incumbent MLAs and candidates.

B.C. ConservativeLeader John Rustadsaid with50 B.C. United candidates and approximately 84 from his own party, a decision on a new slate of candidates was needed "as soon as possible," with the electionsix weeks away.

WATCH |Kevin Falcon on suspending B.C. United's election campaign:

B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon withdraws party from provincial election

2 days ago

Duration 4:10

Falcon explains why his party is getting out of the race and its plans to work with the Conservatives to defeat the NDP.

Ironically, it was Falcon's 2022 ousting of Rustad from B.C. Unitedformerly the B.C. Liberalsover anti-climate science claims that led to Rustad becoming leader of the B.C. Conservatives.

Ever since,the Conservatives have been climbing in the polls and are now out-fundraisingB.C. United. In the past months, four B.C. United incumbent MLAshave jumped ship to the Conservatives.

But whatever theiracrimonious past, Falcon and Rustadpresented aunited frontWednesday in Vancouver.

"I've known Kevin Falcon for 20 years, and while we haven't always seen eye to eye, we both know there is too much at stake to let past disagreements get in the way of defeating David Eby and the radical NDP," said Rustad.

Last week, asurvey from Mainstreet Researchput the B.C. Conservatives in the lead in terms of voting intention at 36 per cent support, ahead of the governing B.C. NDP at 33 per cent.

WATCH |Premier David Eby on B.C. United's withdrawal:

Premier David Eby responds to B.C. United's withdrawal from the election

2 days ago

Duration 1:37

When asked about the decision, Premier David Eby said that both leaders are trying to distance themselves from their record as members of the former governing B.C. Liberal Party.

Speaking at an unrelatednews conference, Premier David Eby said both men are trying to distancethemselves from their record as members of the former governing B.C. Liberal Party.

"They are so embarrassedwith how they ran the province. They both have changed their party names and want to avoid any association with the 16 years that they were in government," said Eby."Whatever they change their name to before the election, they're still the same guys."

Asofficial leader of the opposition in the B.C. Legislature, Falcon ledthe charge to change the name of the B.C. Liberal Party to B.C. United in April of last year.

The move has since been widely criticized as confusing to voters on the right, especially at a time whenthe B.C. Conservatives were benefiting from a surge of support for the federal Conservatives.

WATCH | Callers give their views:

Callers react to B.C. United withdrawing from the election

2 days ago

Duration 1:37

Kevin Falcon is out. The leader of the Opposition will not run in the upcoming provincial election. And some of his party are joining forces with the Conservative Party of B.C.

Falcon said the final decision to cancel B.C. United's campaign to support the Conservatives was made Tuesday night with the endorsement of the party's board of directors. The news was shared with caucus and candidates in a conference call,he said, and caught many staffers off guard.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't bring them into the fold," he said. "They were sensitive discussions."

Asked if this was the end for B.C. United as a party, Falcon replied:"Certainly for this election, yes."

Some B.C. United MLAs surprised by move

On social media, Caroline Elliott, the B.C. United candidate for West Vancouver-Capilano, cheered the development.

"The right thing is sometimes the hardest thing to do, but Kevin Falcon is putting B.C. first, as he's done throughout his career," said Elliott. "This is bigger than any one person. I'll be the first to stand aside in my local riding to support the best chance to defeat the NDP."

Other MLAsexpressed surprise at the move.

Among them was veteran B.C. United MLA Mike Bernier, who summoned an emergency meeting among caucus members onWednesday, saying elected members and party staff were both caught off guard by the announcement.

"I'm trying to figure out what's going on," he told The Canadian Press before the joint news conference. "My phone is blowing up. Kevin's ghosting me."

CBC News has reached out to Bernier andother B.C. United MLAsfor their reaction toWednesday's announcement.