What the Falc?

It is great to be back after my summer break. I had a wonderful vacation, and I hope you did as well.

One individual who did not have such a great summer is Kevin Falcon. On August 28, 2024, he did what I predicted in my July 2^nd blog . He effectively resigned as leader of the moribund BC United party.

However, Falcon’s announcement was much, much more than a resignation. He succumbed to intense pressure from B.C.’s deep-pocketed corporate community to consolidate the so-called business-friendly vote and withdrew his entire party from the upcoming October19th election.

Never before in the history of B.C. provincial politics has any leader made a similar decision to withdraw all his candidates during an election.

Falcon had given no indication ahead of time that he was considering this move. On August 27^th, just the day before his surprise announcement, he was quoted as saying that the B.C. Conservatives “are at risk of becoming a conspiracy party, not a Conservative party.” I’ve also heard that his candidates had just recently been asked to pledge loyalty to BC United. Mr. Falcon had become so concerned about candidate defections to the BC Conservatives that he demanded the pledge.

Falcon’s choice to end BC United’s election campaign was a slap in the face to its many already nominated loyal candidates who were working hard to get votes. Candidates had not been consulted and were given virtually no warning of the plan. Some only heard about the decision on the news.

They had good reason to feel blindsided. It quickly became clear that the whole process resulted entirely from corporate pressure and unfolded over a few days through a backroom deal involving a handful of insiders. Falcon then made the decision unilaterally. He at no time checked with BC United’s caucus or membership. Senior editor Paul Willocks, writing in the Tyee, has labeled Falcon’s decree “a threat to democracy.”

BC United’s former candidates have had to rapidly consider their next steps after being unceremoniously dumped. While Falcon can withdraw BC United’s endorsement of candidates, he does not have the power to remove them from the ballot. That decision rests with each individual.

A few have been asked to become BC Conservative candidates and some are agreeing. Long time, well-respected former BC Liberal cabinet ministers Shirley Bond and Todd Stone are among those opting to retire. At least five are deciding to run as independents – an interesting development which could upend Falcon’s and Rustad’s intention to ‘unite the right.’  Some are still deciding what to do next.

There is no guarantee that previous moderate BC Liberal voters who might have stayed with the BC United brand will vote for the BC Conservatives, given some of that party’s stated hard-right opinions on social issues and climate change. For example, long-time provincial and federal Liberal organizer Mark Marissen has stated that he will now vote for Eby’s NDP.

Then there’s the question of what happens with funds already raised by BC United and moneys already paid out in good faith by its former candidates.  Funds donated to one party cannot legally be passed on to any other party, and at the moment, the party’s financial obligations to the dismissed candidates are not at all clear. Donors, party members, and former candidates are already requesting full disclosure of the party’s financial status. Some former candidates are also reportedly discussing the potential for launching a class action suit to recover their expenses and to pay for their time spent campaigning for the party.

In the midst of all this chaos, it seems to have finally occurred to someone at BC United that they need to run some candidates or they will lose their status and funding as a party. As long as they maintain that status, the party is also still eligible to receive donations. It has been reported that Falcon is now phoning some of the candidate group to ask them to run for the party after all. Apparently, most are telling him to ‘take a hike.’

Although so far Falcon is refusing to officially step down as BC United’s leader, he has certainly lost any support he had. And it is absolutely certain that he has destroyed any future he has in politics.

The challenge now for progressives is to make sure that the NDP is supported to defeat the BC Conservatives.

 

Daily atmospheric CO₂ [Courtesy of CO2.Earth]

Latest daily total (September 19, 2024): 421.73ppm

One year ago (September 19, 2023): 418.86ppm