B.C. Conservative MLA Harman Bhangu says he will “most likely” pursue the leadership of his party in the upcoming race, but only if the yet-to-be-announced rules for the contest are acceptable to him.
Bhangu is a former business owner in the trucking industry who ran unsuccessfully for the B.C. Conservatives in the 2022 election. He went on to serve as the party’s vice-president, before being elected to the legislature last year to represent the Abbotsford-Langley riding. He also serves as the Tories’ transport critic and has been a vocal opponent of several policies endorsed by the governing NDP.
Bhangu said he will make a final decision once the rules for the leadership race are officially published, which he anticipates will occur in January.
“If I like the way it is, transparent, then I feel like it will be a good honest race, I will definitely, most likely, put my name forward,” Bhangu told reporters Dec. 30 in Victoria.
He said his decision regarding an official candidacy for leadership will also depend on the likelihood of a snap election in B.C., because the individual leading the party must be capable of rapidly raising substantial funds to prepare for that possibility.
“If you are running for leader, you need to assess, do you have the network to help after the leadership [race] to bring in a supplementary and a third and a fourth wave of funding to get the party and all the candidates ready and put them in a situation to succeed,” Bhangu said.
Bhangu says that if he runs for party leadership he would focus particularly on economic issues in the province.
Gunn, who represents the Vancouver Island riding of North Island-Powell River said his decision to stay on as a federal MP rather than vie to lead the B.C. Tories was motivated by wanting to ensure the Liberal government does not have the chance to obtain a majority in Parliament.
Bhangu said earlier in December he had no plans to compete against his friend Gunn if he decided to run.
Conservative MLA Peter Milobar, former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Iain Black, former federal Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay, entrepreneur Yuri Fulmer, commentator Caroline Elliott, and Chris Gardner, president of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, have also been suggested as contenders to lead the party, although none have officially entered the race yet.
Bhangu said they are also waiting to hear what the official rules for the leadership race will be.
B.C.’s Conservative Party has faced considerable turmoil since becoming the official Opposition last year, highlighted by the expulsions of MLAs Dallas Brodie and Elenore Sturko, along with the resignations of MLAs Jordan Kealy, Tara Armstrong, and Amelia Boultbee.
The NDP currently holds 47 seats in the B.C. legislature, while the Conservatives have 39, the Green Party has two, and five seats are held by independent members.
