UPDATE: BC United Party suspends campaign, some candidates switching to Conservative Party

UPDATE 4:00 p.m. August 28th: This article has been updated to include quotes from Jordan Kealy.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The BC United Party is reportedly suspending its campaign for the upcoming provincial election, and won’t run any candidates.

BC United leader Kevin Falcon and BC Conservative Party leader John Rustad confirmed the deal to reporter Rob Shaw, who shared the leaders’ quotes on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“It’s probably the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make in my life,” Falcon said.

The deal was reportedly struck late in the evening on August 27th. Several former BC United candidates will now run as Conservative candidates in their ridings, although a full list hasn’t been announced yet.

NEW – @KevinFalcon and @JohnRustad4BC have both confirmed to me their new deal to suspend the BC United campaign.
"It's probably the most difficult decision I've ever had to make in my life," says Falcon.
Some United candidates run under the Conservative banner and a new process…

— Rob Shaw (@RobShaw_BC) August 28, 2024

Kevin Falcon reportedly won’t be running for re-election.

“I’m doing this not because it’s in the best interest of myself or my party, frankly but its in the best interest of British Columbia,” he said.

According to Rustad, the goal of suspending the BC United campaign is to “give [the] people of British Columbia a common sense change choice.”

Rustad is set to host a press conference for a “major announcement” at 2:40 p.m. on August 28th.

In a social media post, Jordan Kealy, who had already been nominated as the BC Conservative Party’s candidate for the Peace River North riding, confirmed that he remains the party’s candidate and is “not going anywhere.”

“This is amazing news and I now believe we have an amazing chance to send the BC NDP packing in the upcoming election,” Kealy says.

“We will gain some great MLAs, possible candidates, and will remain a strong conservative voice for our province.”

Energeticcity.ca has contacted current Peace River North MLA Dan Davies and current Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier, both of whom are members of BC United, to learn more about the situation and whether they’ll continue their bids for re-election.