British Columbia’s official Opposition leader, Kevin Falcon, is confident that voters will have a clear choice in the upcoming fall election. In a recent interview, Falcon emphasized that the decision will be between the unaffordable New Democrats and the results-oriented BC United party, of which he is the leader.
Despite the presence of the B.C. Conservatives, who have gained popularity in opinion polls and hold two seats in the legislature, Falcon believes that their competition will not significantly impact the October 2024 campaign. He dismissed the potential threat by emphasizing that the provincial Conservatives are not affiliated with Pierre Poilievre’s federal Conservatives.
Falcon expressed his lack of concern, citing his experience and labeling polling as unreliable. He attributed much of the support for the B.C. Conservatives to confusion among voters who believed they were voting for Poilievre, the federal Conservative leader.
The B.C. Conservatives, previously a dormant party, attained official party status this year when former B.C. Liberals John Rustad and Bruce Banman joined forces in the legislature. Rustad became the Conservative leader in March 2022 after being expelled from Falcon’s caucus for his support of climate change deniers on social media. Banman, a former Abbotsford mayor, defected from BC United, citing the Conservatives’ commitment to allowing him to voice concerns important to his constituents.
Reflecting on his decision to remove Rustad from the party caucus, Falcon stated that he believed team members should refrain from tweeting climate denial content, as it harms the collective effort. He expressed no regrets about the ejection but admitted that he possibly could have done more to prevent Banman’s departure.
With the election approximately ten months away, Falcon intends to position BC United as the alternative to the current NDP government led by Premier David Eby. The party will focus on key issues such as affordability, healthcare, crime, and the ongoing overdose crisis.
Falcon criticized the NDP’s handling of affordability, citing high housing prices and rising rents that have made British Columbia the most unaffordable province in the country. If elected, BC United plans to implement changes that include the removal of provincial taxes on all fuels and the complete elimination of the carbon tax, provided the Conservatives are elected in Ottawa and drop the federal tax.
Addressing the illicit drug overdose crisis, Falcon pledged that BC United would provide free addiction recovery treatment, emphasizing that the government’s approach of providing free, government-supplied drugs was counterproductive. He expressed his dismay at the reckless decriminalization of hard drugs, stating that British Columbia is the only government in Canada conducting such an experiment.
Despite recent polls indicating a favorable lead for the NDP, Falcon remains undeterred, pointing out that similar polls predicted a significant NDP victory in 2013, only for the party to lose to the B.C. Liberals led by Christy Clark.
As the election approaches, BC United aims to present itself as the common-sense party ready to tackle the challenges faced by British Columbia, instilling optimism about the future among its constituents.
In conclusion, Kevin Falcon, the leader of BC United, is determined to provide voters with a distinct choice in the upcoming fall election. While acknowledging the presence of the B.C. Conservatives, Falcon believes that the party’s impact will be minimal. BC United plans to address key issues such as affordability and the overdose crisis, positioning itself as the alternative to the current NDP government. With the election just months away, Falcon is confident that BC United will emerge as the party that can effectively tackle the challenges facing British Columbia.
