Former Northern B.C. MLA disappointed in former Conservative’s decision to stand as Independent
Posted March 11, 2025 7:58 am.
Last Updated March 12, 2025 2:35 pm.
Former Peace River North MLA Dan Davies, who lost his seat in October’s provincial election to one of the BC Conservatives who left the party on Friday, is frustrated.
Davies is speaking out after now-Independent MLA Jordan Kealy up and left the Conservatives caucus to stand in solidarity with ousted Dallas Brodie, after she made mocking comments about Residential School Survivors.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!Davies says he has heard from a number of constituents who are worried about what this means for the riding’s representation.
“The things that he’s standing up for, whether we’re talking about the Indigenous comments that that he is supporting, or the supporting the Trump tariff government right now,” he explained. “The NDP aren’t really going to want to talk to him because they’re so fundamentally a part.”
Davies isn’t mincing words when it comes to his disappointment.
“I mean, for crying out loud, it’s been three weeks that they’ve been in session, and he’s already walked away because of a disagreement,” he told 1130 NewsRadio.
The former MLA who still calls the region home says people are also worried their needs won’t be met now that Kealy is not under a party banner. He adds that he himself is worried that the issues facing the region won’t be addressed.
“We have tariffs right now. We have a health-care system that’s still having troubles and failing. We’ve got homeless issues. We’ve got mental health, addictions. Those are the issues that people want to talk about,” he explained.
UBC political science lecturer Stewart Prest tells 1130 NewsRadio, that the three MLAs who are now standing as independents — Kealy, Brodie, and Tara Armstrong — are virtually doing the same thing that Conservatives Leader John Rustad did three years ago when he was ousted by BC United.
“They want to sit as a part of protest for the BC Conservatives, which itself was a party of protest,” Prest explained.
Prest adds that not having a party to stand under presents many challenges for the now Independents.
“They’re going to be quite limited in their ability to get things on the agenda within the Legislature, they’re going to have limited access to resources for constituency activities,” he explained.
Prest says it’s important that Kealy and other Independents stand up for the needs of their ridings.
