A B.C. political scientist says it is 含羞草研究社減retty unlikely含羞草研究社� the Conservative Party of B.C. and B.C. United will merge at this stage, but does not rule out some form of co-operation.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 going to be hard for any kind of formal merger to take place,含羞草研究社� Stewart Prest, who teaches at the University of British Columbia, said. 含羞草研究社淏ut that said, they may find ways to co-operate informally in some ways that make it a little easier for them both to compete against the NDP, but it is difficult to say exactly what that might look like.含羞草研究社�
One reason for Prest含羞草研究社檚 skepticism is the advanced stage of both party含羞草研究社檚 election preparations. The Conservatives have nominated 61 of a possible 93 candidates, while B.C. United has nominated 53. But Prest also points to ideological issues that may be difficult to bridge.
含羞草研究社淯p until this point, they have been trying to occupy quite distinct spaces on the politicial spectrum,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭he (provincial Conservatives) have really felt quite comfortable being the voice of what are sometimes referred to the 含羞草研究社楽keptics of Modernity.含羞草研究社� This is a place for people, who are skeptical about anything from vaccines to concerns about SOGI curriculum to concerns about the mainstream understandings of climate change and the need for action on climate change.含羞草研究社�
B.C. United, meanwhile, sees itself in the 含羞草研究社渂ig-tent, right-of-centre含羞草研究社� tradition of the B.C. Liberals, Prest added. That tradition is generally accepting of diversity, the need for action on climate change and strong acceptance of a woman含羞草研究社檚 right to choose, he said.
含羞草研究社淭hey (B.C. United and the provincial Conservatives) can agree that they want to oppose the B.C. NDP from the right, but they may not agree on how to do that on particular issues.含羞草研究社�
Yet both parties are speaking with each other 含羞草研究社� albeit through emissaries behind the scenes 含羞草研究社� while attacking each other publicly on hot-button issues like abortion.
Absolutely appalled by BC Conservative candidate's vile comments. Referring to abortion as a "death cult" and denying women the right to choose is beyond reprehensible. Extremist & toxic views that directly threaten women's rights & bodily autonomy cannot be condoned.
含羞草研究社� Karin Kirkpatrick 馃嚚馃嚘 (@KirkpatrickWVC)
罢丑别含羞草研究社�
Case in the point was the reaction of B.C. United含羞草研究社檚 Karin Kirkpatrick to comments by B.C. Conservative Courtenay-Comox candidate Damon Scrase.
In a social media post dating back to May 2, 2022 and first unearthed by radio host Jas Johal, Scrase said the 含羞草研究社渕ost feverishly defended 含羞草研究社榬ight含羞草研究社� in this country is the right to kill babies. You will never see a Canadian get more animated by any other issue. It含羞草研究社檚 a bizarre sclerotic death worshipping society.含羞草研究社�
Kirpatrick said in her tweet that she is 含羞草研究社渁ppalled含羞草研究社� by Scrase含羞草研究社檚 comments.
含羞草研究社淩eferring to abortion as a 含羞草研究社榙eath cult含羞草研究社� and denying women the right to choose is beyond reprehensible,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淓xtremist (and) toxic views that directly threaten women含羞草研究社檚 rights (and) bodily autonomy cannot be condoned.含羞草研究社�
Rustad said people are allowed to have their own opinion, when asked about Scrase含羞草研究社檚 comments, adding his party won含羞草研究社檛 open the abortion debate in B.C.
Prest said holding talks with provincial Conservatives while calling them out on abortion points to a 含羞草研究社渄isconnect含羞草研究社� and 含羞草研究社渟peaks to a certain amount of desperation on part of B.C. United.含羞草研究社�
Not long ago, B.C. United saw itself as the 含羞草研究社渘atural home of right-of-centre view points含羞草研究社� with the provincial Conservatives viewed as 含羞草研究社渕arginal,含羞草研究社� Prest said. Now, B.C. United is polling in a 含羞草研究社渄istant third含羞草研究社� and these talks are a way for Falcon to remain relevant, he added.
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One measure of the Conservatives含羞草研究社� pull is the way B.C. United has echoed issues traditionally associated with the B.C. Conservatives. That was the case Monday, when Falcon accused the B.C. NDP of 含羞草研究社渆nforcing a vaccine mandate that prevents thousands of terminated health care workers from returning to work.含羞草研究社�
Falcon later said the mandate ignores science and denies the health-care system needed workers.
Prest sees it as evidence of B.C. United being 含羞草研究社渙ut-flanked含羞草研究社� on cultural-political issues.
含羞草研究社淭here is a belated attempt here by含羞草研究社.C. United to shore up those positions, but it may be honestly too late at this point.含羞草研究社�
Provincial New Democrats have frequently accused B.C. United of aping provincial Conservatives.
含羞草研究社淐learly, he (Falcon) woke up and saw the poll numbers and saw that the B.C. Conservatives are eating his lunch,含羞草研究社� Delta North NDP MLA Ravi Kahlon said Tuesday in criticizing B.C. United含羞草研究社檚 position on climate change. 含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 a shame, because (former B.C. Premier) Gordon Campbell was a leader when it came to addressing climate change and he含羞草研究社檚 running that legacy into the ground.含羞草研究社�
But Prest also sees the B.C. NDP on the defensive.
含羞草研究社漈he winds are blowing against left-of-centre governments and progressive movements, both federally and provincially,含羞草研究社� he said.
