VICTORIA — Newly elected B.C. Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay's campaign to block former B.C. Liberals from joining her party has sparked a movement to revive a standalone Liberal Party of British Columbia. A 19-page action plan titled "It's Time to Build a Liberal Party in B.C." began circulating shortly after Findlay's narrow victory in the Conservative leadership vote on May 30.
Manifesto Details
The document, posted by CKNW host Jas Johal, argues that the NDP has governed for years while taking Liberal-minded voters for granted. It criticizes the Conservatives for choosing a leader focused on "faith, freedom and family," suggesting many British Columbians feel neither major party represents their views.
Polling Support
The revival effort gained momentum with a Research Co. poll released Monday. Pollster Mario Canseco reported that 47% of British Columbians believe the province needs a centre-right party as an alternative to the NDP and Conservatives. Additionally, 41% think it is time to bring back the B.C. Liberals, with strong support among those who voted Liberal in the last federal election.
Mark Carney Model
The plan borrows from the federal Liberal strategy under Mark Carney, aiming to win back voters by focusing on competence and a plan to build, rather than ideological divisions. Organizers note that federally, Carney's Liberals attracted voters from across the spectrum.
Potential Vote Split
A revived B.C. Liberal party could split the centre-right vote. Canseco's six-way matchup poll shows: B.C. NDP 35%, B.C. Conservatives 34%, B.C. Liberals 15%, B.C. Greens 9%, CentreBC 3%, and OneBC 3%. This scenario, while interesting for analysts, could confuse voters.
Name Rights Issue
One challenge is the name. The rights to the B.C. Liberal brand are held by its successor, B.C. United, which remains nominally active under leader Kevin Falcon. Revivalists suggest winning control of B.C. United and renaming it, but they acknowledge this effort is unlikely to succeed and have no immediate plans to pursue it.
