British Columbia Faces Turbulent Election Campaign, Endangering Progressive Policies

Department of Research, Strategic Studies and International Relations 19-09-2024

A chaotic election campaign in British Columbia is threatening the province’s progressive climate and Indigenous rights policies, with voters set to head to the polls in October.

Canada’s westernmost province has seen a dramatic provincial election campaign filled with political betrayals, sudden resignations, and unforeseen alliances. The upcoming election pits a struggling premier against a candidate skeptical of climate change, raising concerns about the future of British Columbia’s leadership on climate initiatives.

Up until recently, voters were divided between the ruling New Democratic Party (NDP), a left-leaning party that has been in power since 2017, and the British Columbia Conservative or BC United Party, a rebranded version of a once-dominant political force in the province.

However, the political landscape was thrown into disarray when BC United leader Kevin Falcon announced his party would withdraw from the election, concerned that competing with the Conservative Party of British Columbia could fracture the right-wing vote.

This decision sent shockwaves through political circles, signaling the failure of efforts to reinvigorate the party, and further complicating the province’s political dynamics. BC United, formerly known as the BC Liberal Party, had long been a major player in provincial politics, governing from 2001 to 2017. The party rebranded in 2023, a change championed by Falcon during his leadership run.

Despite spending C$1m on rebranding, internal polling revealed that nearly 30% of party members were still unfamiliar with the new name. By late July, the party even requested that its former name be included on the October election ballot to aid recognition.

Shachi Kurl, executive director of the Angus Reid Institute, a public opinion research group, remarked that Falcon’s decision to scrap the BC Liberal brand effectively dismantled what had once been British Columbia’s dominant political party.

In late August, Falcon made a public statement suspending his party’s campaign and threw his support behind BC Conservative leader John Rustad, despite having previously criticized Rustad’s party as veering towards conspiracy theories. Rustad, once a BC Liberal, was ousted by Falcon for controversial climate-related social media posts but later became leader of the struggling Conservative Party.

Rustad has courted skepticism due to some members’ promotion of conspiracy theories, such as linking 5G technology to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite not being affiliated with the federal Conservative Party, Rustad’s campaign has tapped into growing anti-government sentiment, gaining momentum from Pierre Poilievre’s federal “common-sense” movement.

Rustad’s unorthodox campaign has also attracted surprising support. In early July, Andrew Weaver, former leader of the Green Party and a climate scientist, praised Rustad as a “listener,” while criticizing current premier David Eby’s approach to governance. Although Weaver doesn’t share Rustad’s views on climate change, they both agree that the discourse around the climate crisis is overly alarmist.

Premier Eby expressed confusion over Weaver’s stance, pointing to his long-standing expertise in climate science. Eby emphasized that he had expected Weaver to take a more decisive position given his background.

Recent polling by the Angus Reid Institute shows a tight race between the Conservatives and the NDP, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the election’s outcome.

Since Falcon’s unexpected withdrawal, the Conservative Party has moved swiftly to attract key BC United candidates to their side. Nevertheless, environmental groups are sounding the alarm over what a Conservative victory could mean for years of progressive work on climate and Indigenous rights.

Torrance Coste, a campaigner with Wilderness Committee, warns that while past climate policies may have been slow-moving, recent legislation represents critical milestones. Coste is particularly concerned that Rustad’s promises to overturn legislation on co-managing public lands with BC’s First Nations and to halt efforts to protect 30% of the province’s land and water by 2030 could undo significant progress.

Such rollbacks, Coste argues, would deal a major blow to fighting climate change and protecting biodiversity, while also undermining Indigenous sovereignty. Advocacy groups are prepared to fiercely oppose any attempts to weaken these commitments.

British Columbia’s elections are scheduled for 19 October.