By Chris Beach

Northern View

The Northern View#45: Earthquake in BC Politics

Jun 5, 2024 | 8:57 AM

Last week political tremors shook the province as Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA and BC United Caucus Chair Lorne Doerkson crossed the floor to join the surging BC Conservatives, followed by Surrey MLA, Elenore Sturko this week.

Sturko was arguably the second highest profile BC United MLA right now after party leader Kevin Falcon, speaking about the growing mental health and addiction issues in the media on a constant basis.

As a former soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces, a former reservist in the Royal Canadian Air Force, a former RCMP officer and spokesperson who was quick on her feet, articulate, photogenic and not afraid to take a stand, Sturko was a definite leadership front-runner if she chose that route down the road. She’s also part of the LGBTQ+ community and so instantly expands the BC Conservative Party appeal, giving the party more legitimacy when they say they are a grassroots movement for anyone and everyone that supports their policies and principles.

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Sturko, as a heavy-hitting more moderate, star candidate, is also an asset for the BC Tories in that she gives them the credibility that they aren’t an extremist party, as Premier David Eby would like you to believe. What has become the perfect storm for Kevin Falcon, with the name change from BC Liberals to BC United and the ensuing precipitous drop in public support… has become the ideal political opportunity for John Rustad’s more recognizable BC Conservative brand at a time when an increasing number of British Columbians are looking for more decisive policies in the face of growing challenges in addiction, crime, health care and housing.

Only a few months ago John Rustad was positioning his party to gain a foothold in the legislature come this October… but now with the incredible speed that this is all taking place, with the growing defections of BC United MLAs and the sustained shift in the polls, the BC Conservatives are now positioned to challenge the NDP head on when the writ drops.

With only four months to go, all bets are off, and if recent events are a sign of things to come, it’s going to be an incredibly interesting summer for BC politics. I’m Chris Beach and this is the Northern View.

Editors note: The views expressed in this column do not necessarily represent the views of Pattison Media.