It is unclear who exactly launched a website urging B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon to resign, but B.C. United has an idea.
Adam Wilson, B.C. Unitedâs director of communications, said in an emailed statement to Black Press Media that the party does not respond to questions resulting from âanonymous social media accounts or websites.â
But Wilson added that there is âno evidence it is run by any former members of (B.C.) Unitedâ and that âis more likely another underhanded scheme from John Rustadâs (B.C.) Conservatives after he torpedoed negotiations last week.â
Provincial Conservatives said in a statement that they do not know who made this website.
âOur candidates have been asked not to get involved with this BCU infighting,â it reads.
When asked for comment about B.C. Unitedâs claims, the Conservatives repeated their statement: âWe have no idea who made this website.â
Several attempts by Black Press Media to contact the self-described âgroup of long-time (B.C.) Liberal activistsâ claiming to be behind resignkevin.ca have gone unanswered.
The website blames Falcon for a âseries of decisions and actions that have harmed the chances of defeating the NDPâ following his âill-considered return to politicsâ as leader of then B.C. Liberals, now B.C. United.
âItâs time for a change within United to move forward from the biggest impediment to a free enterprise cooperation agreement in British Columbia,â it reads. âFor the sake of all British Columbians, Kevin Falcon must do the right thing and step aside.â
The website argues that Falconâs resignation âwill allow for real conversations and negotiations to happen between the free enterprise partiesâ that would be âfree from ego, based on current political realities and grounded in a workable solutionâ to defeat the B.C. NDP.
The website acknowledges Falconâs resignation âisnât an ideal course of actionâ but sees few alternatives.
â(Due) to an obstinate leader with delusions of grandeur, we are left with few other options to engineer the cooperation that is so desperately needed.â
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According to publicly available information, the website went online on May 21 â one day before the second and final of two ultimately unsuccessful meetings between âtrusted emissariesâ from both parties to sound out âcommon groundâ between the two parties, as Falcon had described that process this month.
Falcon announced on May 24 that the B.C. Conservatives under John Rustad had rejected B.C. Unitedâs âgenerousâ proposal for a non-competition agreement between the two parties.
âI have to tell you today that John Rustad ultimately made the decision that thatâs not something that he wants to proceed with and he is going to put his personal ambitions, as he views them, above the best interests of the province,â Falcon said.
Rustad responded by saying that B.C. Unitedâs non-competition agreement was not a serious offer and would have led to another NDP government.
âKevin Falcon says publicly that he wants to put his ego aside, but privately, any discussions or âoffersâ have been completely unserious and dishonest,â Rustad said.
This exchange between Falcon and Rustad seems to have set off a series of exchanges between their camps on social media. Both faced off against each other again Monday (May 28) â albeit not together â on a popular morning radio show airing across Greater Victoria.
B.C.âs Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said his government is focused on making sure people have supports they need. â(Kevin) Falcon and John Rustad continue to be focused on fighting each other.â