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By Tommy Osborne

Provincial Election

Third party candidates could shape provincial election

Sep 18, 2024 | 6:06 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Ever since BC United threw its support behind the BC Conservative Party, the upcoming provincial election has largely been billed as a two party race between the BC Conservatives and the BC NDP Party. While recent polls reflect this belief, as both parties are tied at 44% while the BC Green Party is in third place at 10%, that doesn’t mean third party candidates like the Greens or Independent candidates won’t play a role when voting time comes around.

“If it tightens up, the independent candidate could shave off enough votes, that could essentially be a kingmaker for one party or the other,” said CNC Political Science Instructor Chris Beach.

“Third party and independent candidates, although they might not win, they have from time to time shaved off enough votes, got enough support, that they made the difference on actually who does win the election in that given riding,” he continued.

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The value of third party candidates goes well beyond just influencing votes or even winning a seat or two, as Beach adds the longterm gains of continuing to campaign even when the polls don’t swing your way can’t be understated.

“It’s not too long ago the BC Conservatives were that third party. Often it takes several elections for the third parties to grow, and they eventually, sometimes, like the BC Conservatives, have a breakthrough and they become one of the top parties,” Beach said.

However, perhaps the most obvious and important role these third party candidates face is giving voters more choice to vote for what they believe in. For Prince George – North Cariboo Green Party Candidate Randy Thompson, being a voice for the community and standing up for what he believes in is the main reason he joined politics.

“I’m now a politician, but I’m not a politician. I’m just a guy who’s had a lot of experience doing a lot of different things and has seen a lot of stuff, and it’s not getting attention. It’s not being looked at as being important,” Thompson said.

“The feedback I get from a lot of people are they agree with Green philosophy, the principles of taking care of the earth,” he added.

Thompson’s focus primarily revolves around the province’s forestry industry practices, and he says he wants to be the voice for the common people against what he believes is a political landscape that has become too corporate.

“The way I’ve seen B.C. politics change over the years, the thing that doesn’t change is the corporate lobbying and control that they have over the political parties,” he said.

While Thompson of course hopes to win, he admits it may be a bit of a longshot. With that being said, why does he continue to invest so much effort and time into campaigning in what may be a losing effort? He says it’s all about raising awareness for what he believes in, and holding the government and elected officials accountable.

“There’s a lot of information that’s a myth. And I really just want to bring attention to the idea of what forestry is and what it is not,” he said.

Regardless of how much third party representation is seen this upcoming election, it’s likely and perhaps even expected that they will have a notable impact come voting time.

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