A B.C. political scientist says it is 害羞草研究所減retty unlikely害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to be hard for any kind of formal merger to take place,害羞草研究所� Stewart Prest, who teaches at the University of British Columbia, said. 害羞草研究所淏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.害羞草研究所�
One reason for Prest害羞草研究所檚 skepticism is the advanced stage of both party害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淯p until this point, they have been trying to occupy quite distinct spaces on the politicial spectrum,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭he (provincial Conservatives) have really felt quite comfortable being the voice of what are sometimes referred to the 害羞草研究所楽keptics of Modernity.害羞草研究所� 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.害羞草研究所�
B.C. United, meanwhile, sees itself in the 害羞草研究所渂ig-tent, right-of-centre害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 right to choose, he said.
害羞草研究所淭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.害羞草研究所�
Yet both parties are speaking with each other 害羞草研究所� albeit through emissaries behind the scenes 害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所� Karin Kirkpatrick 馃嚚馃嚘 (@KirkpatrickWVC)
罢丑别害羞草研究所�
Case in the point was the reaction of B.C. United害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所渕ost feverishly defended 害羞草研究所榬ight害羞草研究所� in this country is the right to kill babies. You will never see a Canadian get more animated by any other issue. It害羞草研究所檚 a bizarre sclerotic death worshipping society.害羞草研究所�
Kirpatrick said in her tweet that she is 害羞草研究所渁ppalled害羞草研究所� by Scrase害羞草研究所檚 comments.
害羞草研究所淩eferring to abortion as a 害羞草研究所榙eath cult害羞草研究所� and denying women the right to choose is beyond reprehensible,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淓xtremist (and) toxic views that directly threaten women害羞草研究所檚 rights (and) bodily autonomy cannot be condoned.害羞草研究所�
Rustad said people are allowed to have their own opinion, when asked about Scrase害羞草研究所檚 comments, adding his party won害羞草研究所檛 open the abortion debate in B.C.
Prest said holding talks with provincial Conservatives while calling them out on abortion points to a 害羞草研究所渄isconnect害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所渟peaks to a certain amount of desperation on part of B.C. United.害羞草研究所�
Not long ago, B.C. United saw itself as the 害羞草研究所渘atural home of right-of-centre view points害羞草研究所� with the provincial Conservatives viewed as 害羞草研究所渕arginal,害羞草研究所� Prest said. Now, B.C. United is polling in a 害羞草研究所渄istant third害羞草研究所� and these talks are a way for Falcon to remain relevant, he added.
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One measure of the Conservatives害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所渆nforcing a vaccine mandate that prevents thousands of terminated health care workers from returning to work.害羞草研究所�
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 害羞草研究所渙ut-flanked害羞草研究所� on cultural-political issues.
害羞草研究所淭here is a belated attempt here by害羞草研究所.C. United to shore up those positions, but it may be honestly too late at this point.害羞草研究所�
Provincial New Democrats have frequently accused B.C. United of aping provincial Conservatives.
害羞草研究所淐learly, he (Falcon) woke up and saw the poll numbers and saw that the B.C. Conservatives are eating his lunch,害羞草研究所� Delta North NDP MLA Ravi Kahlon said Tuesday in criticizing B.C. United害羞草研究所檚 position on climate change. 害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 a shame, because (former B.C. Premier) Gordon Campbell was a leader when it came to addressing climate change and he害羞草研究所檚 running that legacy into the ground.害羞草研究所�
But Prest also sees the B.C. NDP on the defensive.
害羞草研究所漈he winds are blowing against left-of-centre governments and progressive movements, both federally and provincially,害羞草研究所� he said.
