B.C. Conservatives Shake Up Candidate Roster Ahead of Provincial Election

The political landscape in British Columbia is heating up as the B.C. Conservatives make strategic moves ahead of the provincial election in October. With the recent decision by B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon to withdraw from the campaign and encourage candidates to run for the B.C. Conservatives, the chess game-like maneuvers are in full swing.

Campaign director Angelo Isidorou has been busy calling candidates with news that they will have to step aside for B.C. United candidates, a process he described as “gut-wrenching.” This follows the dropping of Rachael Weber, the former B.C. Conservative candidate for Prince George–Mackenzie, due to attacks from rival parties over her social media posts.

In a surprising turn of events, sitting B.C. United MLAs Peter Milobar, Ian Paton, and Trevor Halford have announced they will be running for the B.C. Conservatives in Kamloops-Centre, Delta South, and Surrey–White Rock, respectively. This move has caused some controversy, with candidate Dupinder Saran expressing disappointment over being displaced in Surrey-Panorama.

Despite the shake-ups, Isidorou maintains that the party is widening its tent to defeat the NDP, emphasizing that they have their platform, policies, and leader in place. However, not all candidates are on board with the changes, with some considering running as Independents in their ridings.

Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau criticized the B.C. Conservatives for their candidate selection process, likening it to moving “pawns on a chess board.” With veteran B.C. United MLAs announcing they will not run again and candidates being shuffled around, the political landscape in British Columbia is certainly keeping everyone on their toes.

As the election draws nearer, it remains to be seen how these strategic moves will play out and whether the B.C. Conservatives can unite the right to challenge the NDP in October.