NDP asks courts to add 'B.C.' to Conservative Party's ballot name

The B.C.NDPis petitioning the courtsto force the B.C. Conservative Party intochanginghow its name shows up on electionballots, arguing that the current phrasing could confuse voters.

NDPLeader David Eby said the name as it stands now the "Conservative Party" is misleading, and comes across as the federal party instead of provincial.

"Mr. Rustad is working very hard to mislead people about who he is and who he represents," Eby said during a press conference in Kelowna. "He's pretending to be part of the federal Conservative Party. He's not, he's misleading people."

The B.C.NDP filed its courtpetition onThursday, asking for Elections B.C. to change the Conservative's ballot nameto "BCConservative Party."

Elections B.C. said it isopposing the application.

The "BCConservative Party"ballot name was used in the 2017 provincialelection, but was changed to "Conservative" in the 2020 provincialelection.

Elections B.C. Senior Director of Communications Andrew Watsonsaid in an email that the newname meets the requirements of the Election Act.

Under the act, Watson said, a party's ballot name must not, in the opinion of the chief electoral officer, be likely to be confused with another provincial political party that is currently registered.

B.C. Conservatives Leader John Rustad said it made sense to have only "Conservative Party" on the ballot becausehis party's registered name with Elections B.C. is "Conservative Party of British Columbia," and that would be too long.

"I find it rather amusing that that's what the NDP is spending their time on," he said.

"It makes sense to be able to have the 'Conservative Party' on the ballot . It's the right thing to be able to do so there is no confusion on the ballet for people in British Columbia."

Elections B.C. said all ballots have been printed, and over 13,000 votes have been made, either in-person or by mail.

Voting by mail remains open until Oct. 13, while in-person advance voting will be available fromOct. 10-16, excluding Thanksgiving.Election day is Oct. 19.