BC Conservative leader John Rustad says a non-compete proposal from BC United was “unpalatable” and would have failed to put up a real challenge to defeat the NDP government in the October provincial election.
Rustad told CHEK News on Monday that the United plan, released publicly Friday, was unacceptable because it limited the BC Conservatives to candidates in 47 ridings.
“We’ve had people coming in from all corners wanting to be part of change, wanting to be part of bringing common sense back to British Columbia, and the idea of not running candidates in half the province and not giving people the option to be able to vote for that change perspective that people are looking for, we just found unpalatable,” said Rustad.
“And so we could not accept that offer.”
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The United proposal also called for its 15 incumbent MLAs to be protected from Conservative challengers.
United leader Kevin Falcon said Friday the proposal was a fair way to avoid centre-right vote-splitting in the Oct. 19 election and mount a combined challenge against the NDP.
A series of recent polls put Conservative popularity at double the level of United, and within striking distance of the NDP.
“The big issue for us is one thing and one thing only, which is defeating this NDP government,” said Rustad. “The proposal that was brought in would not be able to achieve that.”
Rustad said he’s open to United MLAs crossing the floor to join his party.
Falcon has said he’ll proceed toward the election without further cooperation talks.
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Rob Shaw
