Veteran Richmond BC United MLA jumping ship to BC Conservatives

BC United says longtime MLA Teresa Wat is leaving the party and defecting to the BC Conservatives.

A representative of BC United confirmed to CityNews Monday that Wat has indicated her intention to leave, but claims it isn’t on the best terms.

“If Teresa Wat feels that her values better align with John Rustad’s Party, we wish her well,” said Adam Wilson, a communications director for the party.

“Sadly we can confirm that a significant amount of confidential member information was exported by her team, prior to her decision to leave.”

Wilson did not say what confidential information Wat allegedly exported.

Wat represents the Richmond North-Centre riding — which will have its name changed to Richmond-Bridgeview in the upcoming election. She is the fourth elected BC United party member to cross the floor to the Conservatives.

In late May, Wat took to social media to decry a rumour that she might defect.

“This is pure speculation,” said Wat replying to a post saying she may cross the floor.

“I remain a proud [BC United Caucus] MLA… and have been nominated again to run for [BC United] in the upcoming election.”

Politcal science expert says defections call party identities into question

Stewart Prest, a political science lecturer at the University of British Columbia, tells CityNews that Wat’s move is an indication of just how effective the BC Conservatives have been in distinguishing their party as a “big-tent, right-of-centre option for politicians in the province.”

“This is just the latest development to indicate that the BC Conservatives really are becoming a destination party for anyone who sees themselves at home on the right side of the political spectrum, and that encompasses a broad range of communities and backgrounds,” said Prest.

He says her defection, among others, will put increased pressure on the BC NDP to reconsider their stance on key issues.

“Having her join the BC Conservatives ranks is going to, I think, if anything, bolster [the conservatives’] ability to prosecute that case against the NDP. And then the [NDP] government, for its part, is going to have to find ways to clearly indicate where they stand on these issues and what it means to vote for the BC NDP.”

Prest says Richmond North-Centre is a key riding for the conservatives to win, given that it’s been a BC Liberal and United stronghold for more than 30 years and has a diverse voter base. He says it may be a signal that the party is becoming more appealing to different communities and demographics in urban areas.

“Is it a party of skeptics of modernity: people opposed to things like vaccines and the idea of a gender diverse approach to education? Or is it a party in which diverse communities can make themselves at home and comfortable? And so I think that can be one of the most important conversations heading into the fall election. Just what is the BC Conservatives party?

BC Conservatives leader John Rustad has announced he will hold a press conference Tuesday morning.