Cory Morgan: What BC United’s Merger With BC Conservatives Means for the Upcoming Election

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon (L) speaks as BC Conservative Leader John Rustad listens during a news conference in Vancouver on Aug. 28, 2024. Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon has announced that he is suspending BC United's election campaign and is encouraging supporters to instead back the rival BC Conservative Party. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

Commentary

The sudden collapse of the BC United Party will radically change the dynamic of the upcoming general election in British Columbia. Polls show the BC Conservatives sitting just a couple of points behind the governing NDP. BC United has seen its support plummet in past months, but in still holding nearly 10 percent of the vote, their presence on the ballot would impact many close races.