‘Leader of the misfit toys’: Mike Bernier advising former BC United candidates on election options, exploring new alliance

Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier says the journey is far from over for candidates who were planning to run with BC United, and their future could include a new political alliance if they so choose.

He says he’s called the roughly 30 BC United candidates who had paperwork filed to run in the upcoming election and informed them they will still be listed on their respective ballots, but as “unattached candidates.”

Bernier told 1130 NewsRadio he’s learned from Elections BC that BC United Leader Kevin Falcon only had the power to withdraw the party’s endorsement of those candidates — not to remove them from the ballots altogether.

Elections BC confirms this, saying only the individual running can withdraw their nomination, and a party can not revoke a nomination. If a party does not endorse or withdraws its endorsement of a candidate, the candidate can choose to run as an independent (with “independent” appearing next to their name on the ballot), run as an unaffiliated candidate (with only their name appearing on the ballot), or withdraw their candidacy altogether.

If a candidate no longer wants to run in October, they’ll have to contact Elections BC to have their name removed, but Bernier hopes they don’t choose that route, hinting that there may be a path forward for members to form a brand new party in the halls of the B.C. legislature.

“Everybody will make the best decision for them[selves]. But the one thing I have been saying as well: we only need two people in the legislature now to have official party status. And so we’re telling people, don’t just take this and roll over. You don’t have to. There’s options out there,” he said.

“And I have a feeling this will be an unprecedented election, where there’s a number of people who put their names on the ballot as independents, because they actually feel betrayed, and they’re not going to just let this happen.”

Bernier says he’s spoken with West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Karin Kirkpatrick on the matter a number of times.

Kirkpatrick told 1130 NewsRadio Friday that she was aware of a group of candidates who were considering either filing paperwork with Elections BC to register a new party — or, if the timeline was too tight to do that before Oct. 19, to run as unattached candidates and band together after the election.

Bernier acknowledged he’s already providing advice and assistance to candidates with less experience than himself, much in the way a formal party might do for its candidates.

“One of the comments made was that I’m now the leader of the misfit toys,” he joked.

“The big thing is there’s myself, Karin [Kirkpatrick], and a few others who have put ourselves out there. We’re trying to persuade people. We’re just letting them know that there are options, and they need to make the best decision for them, for their constituents, their riding, and their families.”

Bernier said he has yet to receive a courtesy call from Kevin Falcon after the United leader’s bombshell move on Wednesday, nor has he received a call from John Rustad’s camp asking him to join the BC Conservatives.

He’s leaving the door open to accept a nomination if the BC Conservatives offer him one but says that will come with several conditions.

“There have to be, definitely, some conditions and concerns that I have with some of the candidates, some of the views and opinions that the BC Conservatives have. We would have to talk that out, because I can tell you right now, there’s a lot of people in my riding — and my family, more importantly — that could not support some of the views that some of John [Rustad]’s candidates have stated publicly to date.”

Bernier also acknowledged he’s been more forthcoming with details on his mindset than his colleagues have been thus far; he says there’s a lot of panic in the United camp and many party members are keeping their feelings close to their chest.

So what mindset is Bernier in, where he feels empowered to speak where others won’t?

“I’ve really got a ‘screw you’ and ‘screw it’ attitude right now,” he said.

“I’m not trying to throw anybody under the bus, but I’m trying to make sure I’m filling the void and make sure there’s information out there.”

Elections BC says BC United had not submitted any endorsements for the 2024 provincial general election before this week’s announcement, but it says this is not unusual.

“Parties often wait until closer to the nominations deadline (Sept. 28) to submit their endorsement paperwork,” a representative for Elections BC said.

“If BCU does not submit an endorsement for a candidate who has otherwise met the nomination requirements under the Election Act, the candidate will appear on the ballot as an unaffiliated candidate. This would not apply if the candidate withdraws.”