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Incumbent BC United MLAs ponder futures as Conservatives

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VICTORIA – The emotions were still raw at the British Columbia Legislature on Thursday, after the bombshell announcement that the Official Opposition BC United would not contest the fall election.

At least one BC United staff member was in tears as she walked into the legislature.

Incumbent BC United legislators and other candidates who had been expecting to run under the party’s banner on Oct. 19 were meanwhile facing a shakeup of massive proportions after Leader Kevin Falcon’s surprise decision to withdraw their nominations, urging voters to instead support one-time rival, the B.C. Conservative Party.

Candidates were to be pooled, said Falcon and Conservative Leader John Rustad, on Wednesday, and nominations reassessed in light of the deal between the two leaders.

But there will be only 93 ridings up for grabs and BC United and the Conservatives have jointly listed 140 candidates, meaning that the unified list of nominees standing under the Conservative banner must be reduced by a minimum of 47.

Some veteran members of the 23-member BC United caucus indicated their future plans Thursday.

Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone told a news conference in Kamloops he would not be seeking re-election and urged supporters to instead back Conservative candidate Ward Stamer, mayor of nearby Barriere.

Peter Milobar, who represents Kamloops-North Thompson for BC United, thanked Stone for his service on social media, but did not indicate his own future, and could not be immediately reached for further comment.

Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier said he would run as a Conservative if asked — but was not ruling out campaigning as an independent.

Bernier said he was waiting for Rustad to ask him to run in the staunchly conservative Dawson Creek area riding, which he has represented since 2013.

“If he wants to have me, as I think I am the best candidate for Peace River South, then that means he needs to go to the person who’s been nominated for the B.C. Conservatives and say, ‘sorry, you’re not running now,’ ” said Bernier.

He had said Wednesday that everybody in the BC United caucus and party staff were “blindsided” by the day’s events, which were arranged in secrecy the night before between Rustad and Falcon.

Bernier said he organized an emergency Zoom meeting of confused caucus members that took place about 90 minutes before the Falcon-Rustad news conference about the deal.

Bernier said Falcon participated in the call, but suggested his presence was brief and tense.

“(We) felt really blindsided,” he said. “To all of a sudden out of nowhere get a call, saying, ‘Oh, by the way we’re not going to be supporting nominations for anybody and Kevin Falcon is basically, as he says, jumping on the sword to make sure we don’t have an NDP government.'”

But Bernier said that by doing that, Falcon “basically threw us all out there into the wind.”

Bernier, who was BC United’s forestry critic and a former cabinet minister in the party’s previous incarnation as the BC Liberals, said he wanted to run and constituents were urging him to seek re-election.

“I am already getting numerous texts and calls from people in my riding saying, ‘don’t let this deter you, run as an independent, you’ll still win,'” said Bernier.

Neither Rustad nor Falcon would say outright Wednesday that previously chosen candidates for either party would be replaced, although it appears inevitable — BC United’s website says it has 57 nominated candidates and the B.C. Conservatives website says it has nominated 83.

Elections BC reports that 30 BC United candidates and 64 B.C. Conservative candidates have submitted nomination papers.

Bernier said he respected Falcon’s decision to suspend BC United’s campaign to prevent a centre-right vote split, but he still wants to be part of the effort to defeat Premier David Eby’s New Democrats.

Prof. David Black, a political communications expert at Greater Victoria’s Royal Roads University, said the candidate transition faced deadline pressures, with the official campaign period set to start in less than a month, but it could help strengthen the Conservative team.

“There is a lot of logistical work ahead, but that is an acceptable price to pay given the advantages this brings to the Conservatives,” he said. “They get an expanded pool of incumbent BC United MLAs to draw upon, who have governing experience, are known to their constituents, and come pre-vetted.”

He said the Conservatives can also draw upon BC United’s experienced support staff and some incumbent candidates could help win seats in currently held urban B.C. ridings.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2024.

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End of Manitoba legislature session includes replacement-worker ban, machete rules

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WINNIPEG – Manitoba politicians are expected to pass several bills into law before the likely end of legislature session this evening.

The NDP government, with a solid majority of seats, is getting its omnibus budget bill through.

It enacts tax changes outlined in the spring budget, but also includes unrelated items, such as a ban on replacement workers during labour disputes.

The bill would also make it easier for workers to unionize, and would boost rebates for political campaign expenses.

Another bill expected to pass this evening would place new restrictions on the sale of machetes, in an attempt to crack down on crime.

Among the bills that are not expected to pass this session is one making it harder for landlords to raise rents above the inflation rate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Father charged with second-degree murder in infant’s death: police

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A Richmond Hill, Ont., man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his seven-week-old infant earlier this year.

York Regional Police say they were contacted by the York Children’s Aid Society about a child who had been taken to a hospital in Toronto on Jan. 15.

They say the baby had “significant injuries” that could not be explained by the parents.

The infant died three days later.

Police say the baby’s father, 30, was charged with second-degree murder on Oct. 23.

Anyone with more information on the case is urged to contact investigators.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Ontario fast-tracking several bills with little or no debate

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TORONTO – Ontario is pushing through several bills with little or no debate, which the government house leader says is due to a short legislative sitting.

The government has significantly reduced debate and committee time on the proposed law that would force municipalities to seek permission to install bike lanes when they would remove a car lane.

It also passed the fall economic statement that contains legislation to send out $200 cheques to taxpayers with reduced debating time.

The province tabled a bill Wednesday afternoon that would extend the per-vote subsidy program, which funnels money to political parties, until 2027.

That bill passed third reading Thursday morning with no debate and is awaiting royal assent.

Government House Leader Steve Clark did not answer a question about whether the province is speeding up passage of the bills in order to have an election in the spring, which Premier Doug Ford has not ruled out.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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