National

Former cabinet minister appeals to Elections B.C. to register New Liberal Party of BC

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Sep, 2024 12:51 PM

Former federal cabinet minister Herb Dhaliwal says he wants to revive a liberal party for those left politically homeless in British Columbia after the BC United Party suspended its campaign in the upcoming provincial election.

Dhaliwal says he wants "moderate, centrist" voters to get behind the New Liberal Party of BC in time for the election on October 19.

Dhaliwal says in a statement that the former BC Liberal Party that rebranded as BC United was doomed by a "backroom deal" with the BC Conservative Party that left moderate voters without a "preferred political choice on the ballot."

The former federal cabinet minister who left his Vancouver-area riding in 2004 says Leader Kevin Falcon's suspension of the BC United campaign "betrayed" supporters, and the province risks returning to a "dysfunctional" state of "polarizing right versus left combat."

Dhaliwal says an attempt to register the party under the name "New Liberal Party of BC" was rejected by Elections BC on technical grounds and he's now hired a lawyer to contest the rejection.

A letter from lawyer Joven Narwal to Elections BC says the agency declined to register the name due to potential voter confusion, but adding "not associated with BC United" or a similar phrase to the ballot could avoid "any conceivable confusion in the minds of voters."

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Dry, hot spell to return to southern B.C. after rains, cooler weather dampen fires

Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma said the weather has offered "much-needed relief" to communities and firefighting crews. Several evacuation orders and alerts have been lifted around the Antler and Shetland creek blazes, she said.

Dry, hot spell to return to southern B.C. after rains, cooler weather dampen fires

Edmonton man sentenced to five years in prison in terrorism case in United Kingdom

An Edmonton man has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted in the United Kingdom of being a member of a proscribed terrorist group. RCMP say Khaled Hussein, a Canadian citizen, also received one year on probation.

Edmonton man sentenced to five years in prison in terrorism case in United Kingdom

Privy Council to continue anti-racism efforts, clerk says after report release

The head of the federal public service says he is personally committed to "continuous action" to address racism and discrimination in the workplace, following the public release of an internal report that details employees' troubling experiences on the job.

Privy Council to continue anti-racism efforts, clerk says after report release

Fortis BC to launch 10K rebate for homeowners

Fortis B-C is launching a 10-thousand-dollar rebate for homeowners who replace older heating systems with an electric heat pump and high-efficiency gas furnace. The utility says the dual system uses the heat pump for cooling and the furnace for heating, and it will help customers cut both costs and greenhouse emissions.

Fortis BC to launch 10K rebate for homeowners

B.C. toxic drug deaths down 9% in 2024, but six people continue to die each day

British Columbia's Coroners Service says the number of people who have died this year from toxic drug poisoning is down from 2023, but an average of six people are still dying every day from using illicit drugs. The service says it recorded 181 suspected drug poisoning deaths in May and 185 in June, bringing the total number of fatalities in the first half of this year to 1,158.

B.C. toxic drug deaths down 9% in 2024, but six people continue to die each day

Woman rescued off B.C. glacier calls those who braved smoky conditions 'superheroes'

Laurence Desjardins says the wind was loud enough to keep her awake through the night as white ash fell around the tent where she was camping with friends on a glacier in B.C.'s West Kootenay region. They knew they had to leave as quickly as possible.