Opposition Leader Falcon ends BC United election campaign, backs BC Conservatives

British Columbia Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon has announced that he is suspending BC United's election campaign and is encouraging supporters to instead back the rival BC Conservative Party.

Falcon says in a statement that nominations of BC United candidates including current legislators will be withdrawn to allow the Conservatives to draw from them for its election slate, less than two months before the provincial election on Oct. 19.

The statement issued by the Conservatives says that as part of the arrangement, the party has committed to review its candidates based on "an improved vetting process."

The seismic shift in B.C. politics comes amid the Conservatives' rise in popularity under Leader John Rustad that has seen the party far surpass BC United in recent polls.

Falcon says he's stepping back to prevent centre-right vote splitting and to defeat the governing New Democrats.

Rustad says he thanks Falcon for making the "hard but right decision".

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 28, 2024.