Dan Davies to run as Independent candidate in provincial election

This article has been updated to include quotes from Dan Davies.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Current Peace River North MLA Dan Davies has announced his intent to run as an Independent candidate in the upcoming provincial election.

The announcement came at a press conference at his Fort St. John campaign office on 100th Avenue.

According to Davies, he intends to move away from “divisive politics” and focus on his job, adding that he intends to work with whatever party is in power.

“[Divisive and contentious politics] is not what people want,” Davies said. “That is not what people expect in their elected representatives, and I plan to focus on my job, which is representing each and every individual in this riding, and representing British Columbians as we move forward in a very unique time.”

Davies, a former member of the BC United Party, was set to run for re-election alongside other BC United members before the party’s surprise dissolution last week.

Davies expressed disappointment in Kevin Falcon, the former party leader, for his handling of the dissolution, saying MLAs like him found out about it at the same time as the general public, through social media.

“I’m very disappointed in Kevin’s decision,” Davies said, “as we were not consulted. We did not find out about this announcement — literally, I found out on X (formerly known as Twitter), as did all of my colleagues. [That’s] just not the way that things should be done.”

Davies described the dissolution as “another decision that was made for [Peace River North residents]” through a closed-door deal in Vancouver or Victoria, “just like a lot of decisions that always leave [people] here in the north out.”

Davies will be running against Conservative candidate Jordan Kealy. 

Meanwhile, in the Peace River South riding, Conservative candidate Larry Neufeld will run against incumbent Mike Bernier, also a former BC United member turned Independent.

Energeticcity.ca will update this story with new information as it becomes available.