One of Abbotsford含羞草研究社檚 MLAs has left the BC United political party.
Bruce Banman, MLA for Abbotsford South, announced Wednesday that he含羞草研究社檚 joined the Conservative Party of British Columbia after 含羞草研究社渃areful consideration.含羞草研究社�
In a press release he said he is proud to join his 含羞草研究社渇riend John Rustad as the voice for everyday hardworking people and that the Conservatives are the 含羞草研究社渙nly party that stands for what含羞草研究社檚 right in the legislature, rather than what含羞草研究社檚 politically convenient or politically correct.含羞草研究社�
Banman was elected in 2020 as a BC Liberal, the former name of BC United, with 44 per cent of the vote. At the time he was also an Abbotsford city councillor, a role he had held since 2018. He stepped down from council in February 2021 to focus solely on being MLA. That triggered by-election for one city council seat, which was won by Dave Sidhu.
Prior to that, he was mayor of Abbotsford from 2011 to 2014.
On Wednesday, he said he moved parties because the Conservatives have 含羞草研究社渃ommon sense.含羞草研究社�
The Conservative Party of British Columbia has made history today! Please join us in welcoming Dr. Bruce Banman to our caucus! A strong and principled advocate for his constituents, Bruce will sit as our second MLA in the legislature.
含羞草研究社� Conservative Party of BC (@Conservative_BC)
Release:
含羞草研究社淲e don含羞草研究社檛 support Trudeau-backed policies like the punishing carbon tax that hurts everyday people; we refuse to condone the ideological NDP education agenda that teaches students what to think instead of how to think; and, we will never support the myth of safe supply that kills British Columbians and poisons our communities with hard drugs,含羞草研究社� he said.
含羞草研究社淚 believe B.C. needs a leader who is a straight up, decent human being 含羞草研究社� and a party that含羞草研究社檚 willing to put politics aside to stand for what含羞草研究社檚 right.含羞草研究社�
He said Rustad is that leader.
Banman is now the second MLA in the province under the Conservative banner, the same number as the Green Party. This also will give them official party status.
He was serving as the BC United含羞草研究社檚 shadow minister for Emergency Management, Climate Readiness and Citizen Services.
BC United leader Kevin Falcon said Banman含羞草研究社檚 departure 含羞草研究社渨as not entirely unexpected due to ongoing internal management challenges with Bruce含羞草研究社� and that 含羞草研究社渉is decision betrays the Abbotsford constituents who elected him as a member of our team. But as we move forward, our focus remains unwavering.含羞草研究社�
Falcon added that 含羞草研究社渙ur focus will remain on championing big ideas and nominating incredible candidates 含羞草研究社� including in Abbotsford South 含羞草研究社� who will work to restore confidence in British Columbia.含羞草研究社�
Abbotsford South has a history of MLAs leaving the Liberals. John van Dongen was elected a Liberal in 2009, then left the party to sit as a Conservative, then as an independent. Darryl Plecas was elected as a Liberal in 2013 and then left the party to sit as an independent.
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