BC United MLA Dan Ashton Seeks Nomination for Federal Conservatives

The Conservative Party logo is seen before the opening of the party's national convention in Halifax on Aug. 23, 2018. (The Canadian Press/Darren Calabrese)

B.C. United Party MLA Dan Ashton has announced he will be leaving the party to seek a nomination to run for the federal Conservative Party, just four weeks after another United Party MLA, Ellis Ross, said he was making the same move.

Mr. Ashton made the announcement on social media on Feb. 23, thanking supporters for their encouragement.

“I had never expected so many people to encourage me to put my name forward,” he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “Thank you to everyone who reached out. Your encouragement and support means a lot and I am taking this next step.”

Mr. Ashton is seeking the nomination for Tories in the riding of South Okanagan-Similkameen-West Kootenay.

The current MP currently holding the seat, NDP member Richard Cannings, announced in September 2023 that he would not be seeking re-election for the riding.

He has served for over a decade in federal politics, an NDP news release said.

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In December 2023, Mr. Ashton said he would not be seeking another term as an MLA.

“When the next provincial election occurs, it will be my time to move on as your MLA,” he posted on his Facebook page. “While I am looking forward to finishing my term, it is important to me that there is enough time to find another member of our community who will ultimately become our next MLA.”

First elected MLA in 2013, Mr. Ashton was reelected in 2017 and 2020. He is serving as the shadow minister for Municipal Affairs and previously served as the critic for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, parliamentary secretary to the minister of finance, and parliamentary secretary to the minister responsible for Core Review, which looks at the best uses of government resources.

Mr. Ashton served two terms as mayor of Penticton before becoming an MLA. He was also a city councillor for three consecutive terms.

Provincial Politicians Seeking Tory Candidacy

On Jan. 22, BC United Party’s Mr. Ross announced his departure to run for the Conservatives in Skeena-Bulkley Valley.

The high profile politician said in a video posted to X that running for the federal Conservatives was “a tough decision” that took him more than six months to make.

Also in January, MPP and a cabinet member in the Ontario Progressive Conservative government Parm Gill resigned from his provincial responsibilities to run for the federal Tories.

“I am motivated to continue to fight for the constituents of Milton by joining Pierre Poilievre’s common sense Conservative team in their efforts to defeat Justin Trudeau’s Liberal-NDP costly coalition,” Mr. Gill, minister of red tape reduction, said on Jan. 25.