OPINION – Independents versus Political Party Candidates – Part 2

Part 2 or 2 – Read part 1 here

Yesterday, I gave an overview of our current situation in the Peace River North and South Ridings in the upcoming Oct 19^th Provincial election.  What I write are my own thoughts and opinions and not endorsed or reviewed by any of the candidates.

This now brings us to those three crucial questions I asked;

1. Can one vote “Independent” and not split the vote and allow the NDP to come up the middle and win the election?
2. Should one vote for Independents?
3. Can an Independent effectively represent their riding in a system dominated by party politics?

The answer to all three can be yes but depends upon each riding’s specific circumstances.

Both the North and South Peace ridings are in no danger of splitting the vote between each of their two conservatively minded candidates and allow the NDP to come up the middle and win the ridings.  Historically the NDP garners less than 10% of the vote and the other +/- 90% has been split between centre right candidates and with a person affiliated with either Social Credit, BC Reform or BC Liberals becoming the member of Legislature (MLA).  No person has previously run and won as an Independent.

In recent history only one person has ever been elected in BC as an Independent (Vicki Huntington in 2009 and again in 2013 in Delta South).  In 1996 Richard Neufeld was elected in Peace River North as a BC Reform member, but had to sit as an Independent as Reforms’ two members could not be granted party status in the Legislature at that time (today two persons can be called a “Party” in the legislature if they so choose).  

This year is different than previous years as there are five sitting MLA’s and former members of BC United running as Independents (or unaffiliated).  These five were either not invited or declined to join the BC Conservatives (both Davies in North Peace and Bernier in South Peace were not invited to join).  There are no candidates running from their former party.

In a close race between the BC Conservatives and the NDP, one or more of these five incumbents and former BC United MLAs could help form the balance of power with the BC Conservatives, either by joining or supporting (none are remotely affiliated with the BC NDP, and neither are they likely to be).

Not only can they help form the balance of power they can also bring a wealth of knowledge, experience  and understanding of how government works and operates to the BC Conservative party that is dominated by persons who have never been elected to the Province and have no governing experience.  All eight of the BC Conservative sitting MLAs, including Rustad were either recruited or came over from BC United.  With their experience in the BC Legislature, Davies (2 terms in Opposition) and Bernier (3 terms both as a Minister in government and in Opposition) would bring some of that much needed knowledge and experience.  Of note, when the NDP won the 2017 election they had little to no knowledge of how to run a Government in power and it took them 2 – 3 years to learn the rules, process and nuances before they could effectively govern,  noting that some will say they never were effective. 

BC cannot afford to waste 2 – 3 more years for the BC Conservatives to learn how to govern and they would be wise to take advantage of the opportunities that former members and MLAs of BC United can bring.  Given the current polling projections, they may have no choice but to ask/offer Independents to join with them to form government.

As leader of BC Conservatives, John Rustad has stated that he will not whip his MLAs (require them to vote as directed and in some cases, vote against their will).  Peace River North candidate Jorden Kealy has said the same, that he will not vote against his constituents or conscience.  In essence, when these two statements are combined, they suggest that BC Conservative members can essentially operate as independents, if they so choose.  On the flip side, one may question the sincerity of Rustad on this, as he and his party have prohibited some of his candidates from participating and answering any questions in riding debates (IE – Conservative candidate Neufeld in South Peace) as he does not want them to be put on the spot and be allowed to answer questions from their potential constituents or state any person beliefs.  Information I was given says Kealy had to beg/cajole/ plead to be allowed to participate in Peace River North debates (good on Jordan to recognize the importance of these debates).

Much has been made in social media by BC Conservative supporters that Dan Davies is not a conservative and that this statement should not be on/in his promotional materials, respite the BC Conservatives having no exclusive right to the term “conservative”.  Truth is, Dan Davies is and has been a conservative for a long time.  Dan ran (unsuccessfully) for the Federal Conservative nomination in the Prince George-Peace River riding in 2011, to which Bob Zimmer won and continues to hold.  As a member of BC United Dan represented the conservative side of the coalition of centre/right citizens that BC United represented, as did Richard Neufeld and Pat Pimm before him.  To some, being conservative may mean certain idealogues and thinking, while to others, not so much. To put this in perspective and as an example, the BC Conservatives are promoting the “Rustad Rebate” which will give rebates (money back) to one class of residents (renters and mortgage holders) while ignoring those who already own their own homes, which in itself is a form of socialism designed to buy votes in trying to compete with the Eby and the NDP.   At least, Kevin Flacon and BC United’s proposal to exempt the first $50,000 of ones income as tax exempt applied to all and better followed conservative principles.  

Another frequent criticism for both Davies in Peace River North and Bernier in Peace River South is that they are somehow different than BC Conservative members.  True for some aspect, as we all differ, and not so much when compared to others.  John Rustad sat as a BC Liberal from 2005 to 2022 when Falcon expelled him from the party for his comments on climate change.  Rustad then joined the BC Conservative party in 2022 and since that time, has had 7 more BC Liberal/BC United MLA’s join him.  No current BC Conservatives can claim their current status as incumbents were elected as BC Conservatives.  

When Kevin Falcon folded the BC United campaign, he gave Rustad and the BC Conservatives the entire BC United election platform which many of their current policies and initiatives, stem from, some word for word.  In most ways, the BC Conservatives are not that much different than BC United, but there are some. It has also been said at least one of their sitting MLAs is a Federal Liberal member.  

Until the election results are known, it is too difficult to speculate on how things will turnout, or what would happened should some Independents be elected, whether the BC Conservatives will need them to form government, or offer them to join or negotiate some form of agreement with each.

Suffice to say, there are some advantages for an Independent in the Legislature.  Recent changes allow Independents to introduce motions and have been given at least twelve separate opportunities to ask questions in Question Period (the one time a day that the opposition gets to hold the governing party to account).  Previously, as a back bench opposition member Davies had two opportunities annually to ask questions, and all motions had to be approved by the BC United Caucus.

Many on social media do not understand how our Legislature works and the roles of opposition MLAs and wish to hold Davies (and Bernier) responsible for the dismal performance of our government.  Sorry to inform you, it doesn’t work that way.

Davies and the others in opposition can only vote against and/or propose changes and unless the NDP agrees, the NDP gets their way and the opposition loses.  All BC United, BC Conservative, BC Green and Independent MLAs were in opposition and did not get the choice of setting the agenda or denying legislation, as that is the controlled by the governing party (currently NDP).  All MLAs can be graded on how they performed as an MLA in their home riding and on how they handled the numerous inquiries, complaints or questions by their constituents. On that, Dan Davies has done very well.

Voting is important and remember, the world is run by those who show up.  Although I can say who I will vote for and why, your choice is up to you.  The important part is that you exercise that right and choice and vote for the candidate who you expect to best represent you.

Oct 19^th is election day.  Advance voting will be open from October 10^th to 16^th, with voting locations closed on October 14^th on Thanksgiving Day. Residents can vote by mail and have until October 13^th to request a package online or by phone, and voter registration is open online, in person, and over the phone until October 19^th. 

Get out and vote.  

Evan Saugstad, and this is my opinion.