West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Karin Kirkpatrick to run as independent

West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Karin Kirkpatrick announced Monday she will run as an independent in the upcoming provincial election.

Kirkpatrick was elected in 2020 as a member of the BC Liberal Party — later BC United — serving as the shadow minister for housing, childcare, autism and accessibility, gender equity, and inclusion.

Upon the party’s dissolution in late August, Kirkpatrick told 1130 NewsRadio she was “very angry.”

“I feel that there’s been a real disservice done to British Columbians by completely removing that middle choice, which I think is where most British Columbians, ideologically or from a principled perspective, actually fit,” said Kirkpatrick. 

“And it was done in such an egregious way and hurt so many different people who had really, really been trying hard to support Kevin [Falcon] and to support the party.”

In February, Kirkpatrick had announced she would not seek re-election, but in a statement posted to social media Monday morning, she says she was encouraged to run, following Falcon’s decision.

“I heard loud and clear from members of our community: they don’t want to vote for an NDP government but felt deeply uncomfortable supporting the BC Conservatives,” she said.

“They want to see fiscal responsibility and a strong economy but don’t want to vote for a party that has tolerated extreme views and conspiracy theorists,” Kirkpatrick added.

For her announcement, Kirkpatrick was joined and endorsed by former long-time BC Liberal MLA Ralph Sultan.

Kirkpatrick joins four other incumbent MLAs now running as independents: Dan Davies for Peace River North, Mike Bernier for Peace River South, Coralee Oakes for Prince George-Cariboo, and Tom Shypitka for Kootenay-Rockies.

Other BC United MLAs have been invited to run as BC Conservatives candidates in the Oct. 19 election.