So you want to start a political party in B.C. Here are the logistics — and potential challenges
2 Independent MLAs have started a new political party. Here's how
A new political party has emerged in British Columbia after two Independent MLAs, formerly of the B.C. Conservative Party, criticized the party's leader, John Rustad, for moving away from conservative values.
So, what does it take to set up a political party in B.C.? And what does it mean for provincial politics?
One B.C. officially registered as a political party on June 9.
The party was set up by former B.C. Conservative MLAs Dallas Brodie and Tara Armstrong, born out of internal clashes within the Official Opposition as it struggled to unite a big tent party of MLAs with diverse views.
Elections B.C. says to register as a political party, an organization must: have a primary purpose of fielding of candidates in provincial elections, have a proposed name that is not prohibited and have at least two principal officers — a financial agent and an auditor.
There is no fee to submit a registration application to Elections B.C.
As for the name, proposed political party names cannot include the words "independent" or "non-affiliated" and cannot be similar to the name of a political party that is currently registered, have an earlier application for registration pending or be likely to be confused with another political party's name that has been registered during the previous four years.
A party cannot use a name that has appeared on a ballot in B.C. at any time during the last 10 years and cannot include information like a candidate's occupation, title, honours, degrees or any indication that candidates have held elected office.
Because the party has two elected MLAs, they will get official party status in the legislature.
That gives Brodie and Armstrong raises as party leader and house leader, respectively.
All MLAs in British Columbia have a base salary of $119,532. As leader, Brodie will receive an additional $29,883 a year as party leader and Armstrong an additional $11,953.
Brodie insists the party has a "path to victory" by courting the conservative base which is "disillusioned" with Rustad's leadership.
However, there's already been a split among the three MLAs who left the B.C. Conservative fold; MLA Jordan Kealy, also a former Conservative, did not join One B.C., citing a "disagreement" over party values and leadership.
It's an indication of how difficult it is to start a party from scratch, according to University of British Columbia political scientist Stewart Prest.
Prest said any new political party faces the challenge of landing their message with a broad swath of British Columbians.
Even established parties like the B.C. Liberals struggled to make inroads after they changed their name to B.C. United, Prest said.
WATCH | Former B.C. United MLA starts centrist political party:
The emergence of One B.C. means Rustad will be facing challenges to his big tent party on two fronts, said Andrew Reeve, former communications director for the B.C. Liberals-turned-B.C. United.
Former B.C United MLA Karin Kirkpatrick has also launched a new political party called Centre B.C., courting former B.C. Liberals who feel Rustad has taken the Official Opposition too far to the right.
"On certain issues, One B.C. will try to pull [the B.C. Conservatives] apart, probably on the cultural issues," Reeve said. "I don't know if that's a winning strategy in the province. I don't think there's enough voters in the ridings to win, and it's certainly not enough to form government. But it could be enough to split the vote and cause a lot of damage for Rustad."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
