A series of candidates for British Columbia's upcoming provincial election have disappeared from the B.C. Conservatives' online list of nominees, as some former BC United members move into the Conservative fold after last week's reshaping of the province's political landscape.
Some former candidates complained that the Conservatives were being infiltrated by the Official Opposition — whose leader Kevin Falcon ended his party's campaign last Wednesday — and at least one said they planned to run as an independent.
Dale Parker for Nanaimo-Gabriola Island! Dale has over 30 years of experience in business and IT, working as a consultant, manager, and senior technical advisor across both the public and private sectors. #bcpoli
— Conservative Party of BC (@Conservative_BC) September 3, 2024
Meet Dale: https://t.co/B5JwalxPP6 pic.twitter.com/q5vJkQRa5o
I am running as the @Conservative_BC MLA Candidate in Oak Bay - Gordon Head.
— Stephen Andrew (@Stephen_Andrew) September 3, 2024
I’m running because, simply put, the policies of David Eby’s NDP are not meeting the needs of British Columbians, especially those in Oak Bay – Gordon Head.”
After 7 years of NDP rule we have higher… pic.twitter.com/XuFCyy6jZh
Falcon and B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad last week announced a deal to pool candidates under the Conservative banner to avoid vote splitting that could favour Premier David Eby's NDP in the Oct. 19 election.
BC is worth fighting for. We have an amazing province with rich resources and incredible people.
— Conservative Party of BC (@Conservative_BC) September 2, 2024
We just need better government.
On October 19th, vote Conservative. #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/qjiD15VYs5
Michael Wu for Burnaby North! Michael is a successful entrepreneur and a long-serving Auxiliary RCMP member, with extensive experience in business ownership and community service. #bcpoli
— Conservative Party of BC (@Conservative_BC) September 3, 2024
Meet Michael: https://t.co/yU3EH43fcZ pic.twitter.com/XxeJvpVI9C
Some of those whose names no longer appear on the Conservatives' website took to social media to complain about the changes and accuse the party of shifting its values.
In a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Dupinder Kaur Saran says she will now be running as an independent in Surrey-Panorama because another Conservative had been "bullied" into standing there instead.
Hello everyone,
— Dupinder Kaur Saran (@dksj_official) September 3, 2024
As a candidate in Surrey - Panorama, I witnessed a Conservative candidate in Whiterock being bullied into leaving their riding & to choose either the Fleetwood or Panorama riding. I could no longer watch this drama unfold & did the right thing by moving to a…
Former Prince George-Mackenzie candidate Rachael Weber — whose social media content about the "5G Genocide" had drawn criticism from BC United — confirmed in a Facebook post that she had been replaced in what she called "a matter of deep sadness for me."
"I believe this Conservative Party of BC is no longer Conservative but running under the guise of the name Conservative. They have allowed many BC United (Liberal) candidates to infiltrate the party and have lost sight of the real Conservative values we as Conservatives hold dear," Weber said.
"Your new Conservative candidate for this riding will more than likely be BC United Liberal opposition."
Former BC United candidate in Burnaby North Michael Wu will now represent the Conservatives there, with the party's former nominee, Simon Chandler, moved to Burnaby East.
Former BC United nominees Scott McInnes in Columbia River Revelstoke, and Keenan Adams in Port Coquitlam, become the Conservative candidates in those ridings instead.
