It is unclear who exactly launched a website urging B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon to resign, but B.C. United has an idea.
Adam Wilson, B.C. UnitedBԪַs director of communications, said in an emailed statement to Black Press Media that the party does not respond to questions resulting from BԪַanonymous social media accounts or websites.BԪַ
But Wilson added that there is BԪַno evidence it is run by any former members of (B.C.) UnitedBԪַ and that BԪַis more likely another underhanded scheme from John RustadBԪַs (B.C.) Conservatives after he torpedoed negotiations last week.BԪַ
Provincial Conservatives said in a statement that they do not know who made this website.
BԪַOur candidates have been asked not to get involved with this BCU infighting,BԪַ it reads.
When asked for comment about B.C. UnitedBԪַs claims, the Conservatives repeated their statement: BԪַWe have no idea who made this website.BԪַ
Several attempts by Black Press Media to contact the self-described BԪַgroup of long-time (B.C.) Liberal activistsBԪַ claiming to be behind resignkevin.ca have gone unanswered.
The website blames Falcon for a BԪַseries of decisions and actions that have harmed the chances of defeating the NDPBԪַ following his BԪַill-considered return to politicsBԪַ as leader of then B.C. Liberals, now B.C. United.
BԪַItBԪַs time for a change within United to move forward from the biggest impediment to a free enterprise cooperation agreement in British Columbia,BԪַ it reads. BԪַFor the sake of all British Columbians, Kevin Falcon must do the right thing and step aside.BԪַ
The website argues that FalconBԪַs resignation BԪַwill allow for real conversations and negotiations to happen between the free enterprise partiesBԪַ that would be BԪַfree from ego, based on current political realities and grounded in a workable solutionBԪַ to defeat the B.C. NDP.
The website acknowledges FalconBԪַs resignation BԪַisnBԪַt an ideal course of actionBԪַ but sees few alternatives.
BԪַ(Due) to an obstinate leader with delusions of grandeur, we are left with few other options to engineer the cooperation that is so desperately needed.BԪַ
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According to publicly available information, the website went online on May 21 BԪַ one day before the second and final of two ultimately unsuccessful meetings between BԪַtrusted emissariesBԪַ from both parties to sound out BԪַcommon groundBԪַ between the two parties, as Falcon had described that process this month.
Falcon announced on May 24 that the B.C. Conservatives under John Rustad had rejected B.C. UnitedBԪַs BԪַgenerousBԪַ proposal for a non-competition agreement between the two parties.
BԪַI have to tell you today that John Rustad ultimately made the decision that thatBԪַs not something that he wants to proceed with and he is going to put his personal ambitions, as he views them, above the best interests of the province,BԪַ Falcon said.
Rustad responded by saying that B.C. UnitedBԪַs non-competition agreement was not a serious offer and would have led to another NDP government.
BԪַKevin Falcon says publicly that he wants to put his ego aside, but privately, any discussions or BԪַoffersBԪַ have been completely unserious and dishonest,BԪַ Rustad said.
This exchange between Falcon and Rustad seems to have set off a series of exchanges between their camps on social media. Both faced off against each other again Monday (May 28) BԪַ albeit not together BԪַ on a popular morning radio show airing across Greater Victoria.
B.C.BԪַs Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said his government is focused on making sure people have supports they need. BԪַ(Kevin) Falcon and John Rustad continue to be focused on fighting each other.BԪַ