B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon said Friday (May 24) he has a B次元官网网址渃lear conscienceB次元官网网址� after confirming that talks about a proposed B次元官网网址渘on-competition frameworkB次元官网网址� with the Conservative Party of B.C. under John Rustad had ended after two meetings.
Falcon said Rustad rejected the proposal following talks on May 2 and May 22.
B次元官网网址淚 have to tell you today that John Rustad ultimately made the decision that thatB次元官网网址檚 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,B次元官网网址� Falcon said. B次元官网网址淲hile I may disagree with his decision, I respect the fact that the decision has been made and we are going to go forward.B次元官网网址�
Rustad said in statement that it was Falcon, who would do B次元官网网址渁bsolutely anything for powerB次元官网网址� in dismissing the offer.
B次元官网网址淜evin Falcon says publicly that he wants to put his ego aside, but privately, any discussions or B次元官网网址榦ffersB次元官网网址� have been completely unserious and dishonest,B次元官网网址� Rustad said.
Rustad also reiterated his promise that the Conservatives would run candidates in 93 ridings in framing the election as a choice between his party and the B.C. NDP under Premier David Eby.
He later said in an interview that the discussions were B次元官网网址渦nofficialB次元官网网址� while calling the proposed non-competition framework B次元官网网址渘on-workableB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渘on-starterB次元官网网址� because it would have led to another NDP government.
B次元官网网址淗owever, we are interested and we are still interested in having conversations with anybody that wants to work under the Conservative banner who wants to put an end to (Premier) David EbyB次元官网网址檚 radical government here in British Columbia,B次元官网网址� he said.
This exchange comes just days after a poll had shown the Conservatives at 32 per cent with B.C United tied at 12 per cent with the B.C. Greens.
The non-competition framework proposed by B.C. United would have fallen short of a merger, but it would have protected the partiesB次元官网网址� respective incumbents B次元官网网址� 15 for B.C. United, two for the Conservatives B次元官网网址� from candidates from the other party. B.C. Conservatives would have run 47 candidates and B.C. United would have run 46 candidates, because B.C. United has more incumbents to protect.
The parties would have divided up the seats in a draft format, whereby the provincial Conservatives could have made three choices for each one that BC United had made until each party had picked the same number of ridings, including ridings with incumbents. From that point, the parties would have alternated choices until reaching the agreed-upon number seats for each party.
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The two parties would have been responsible for their own campaigns and fundraising, but would not have attacked each other during the campaign.
The agreement also included provisions for a potential coalition government after the election. If their combined total seats had exceeded the seats of the B.C. NDP, the parties would have agreed to form a coalition government. The leader of the party with the most seats would have been become Premier, while the leader of the party with the fewer seats would have become deputy premier and held a senior cabinet posts. Cabinet seats would have been allocated relative to the number of seats held by each party.
B次元官网网址淲e put forward a very, I think, generous and reasonable potential framework for how we could have (had) a sort of non-compete agreement and I can look people in the eye and say, B次元官网网址榳e gave it our best shot,B次元官网网址� and it was legitimate,B次元官网网址� Falcon said.
Falcon, however, explicitly refused to rule out a coalition government after the election. He warned against speculation at this stage, but added that he would B次元官网网址渁lways do the right thingB次元官网网址� for the free-enterprise system in B.C.
B次元官网网址淭his is British Columbia, folks,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎 lot can change in a week and a lot can change in five monthsB次元官网网址o seat-belt yourself in and wait to see what happens,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut I want you to know that I trust British Columbians and British Columbians are going to look very carefully.B次元官网网址�
Falcon later acknowledged some commonalities with Conservatives on economic issues. B次元官网网址淏ut I make no apology for the fact that they have very problematic candidatesB次元官网网址nd in the coming months, itB次元官网网址檚 going to be apparent.B次元官网网址�
Falcon said his party will now focus on the campaign ahead.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want to say that the gloves are off (against the Conservatives), but we are going to be very open about the fact that they have got some candidates that are extremely problematic and that most British Columbians would say that is far too extreme.B次元官网网址�
Rustad said B.C United would be B次元官网网址渓ucky to elect anybodyB次元官网网址� when asked about a possible coalition after the election based on current polls. B次元官网网址淗owever, the objective of the Conservative Party of (B.C.) is to prevent David Eby and his radical policies from governing in (B.C.),B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f there is an opportunity to take them down, I would do everything I can to take them down as quickly as possible.B次元官网网址�
When asked about FalconB次元官网网址檚 comments about the Conservatives having B次元官网网址減roblematicB次元官网网址� candidates, Rustad said the party has a vetting process.
B次元官网网址淚f Kevin Falcon has something to bring forward, I suggest that he do just that,B次元官网网址� Rustad said. B次元官网网址淚f we missed something, that is something we have to look at and address. ButB次元官网网址B次元官网网址檓 proud of the team we have put together.B次元官网网址�
Reactions to the end of talks between the two parties has varied according to their respective interests.
B次元官网网址淵esterday we announced that over 600 new affordable homes are coming to metro Van,B次元官网网址� B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Housing Minister and B.C. NDP House Leader Ravi Kahlon wrote on X. B次元官网网址淭oday these guys are squabbling over who killed their backroom deal. (B.C.) canB次元官网网址檛 afford the nonsense these guys would bring in.B次元官网网址�
Yesterday we announced that over 600 new affordable homes are coming to metro Van.
B次元官网网址� Ravi Kahlon (@KahlonRav)
Today these guys are squabbling over who killed their backroom deal.
BC canB次元官网网址檛 afford the nonsense these guys would bring in.
We will stay focused on being there for people.
