Two former BC Conservative MLAs have launched a new centre-right party named OneBC.
Led in the interim by Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie and joined by Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong, OneBC notably did not have the support of former B.C. Conservative MLA, Jordan Kealy, who had departed from the party in solidarity with Brodie’s expulsion.
Brodie claims that the BC Conservatives and NDP have “made a mockery” of British Columbian democracy and promised to bring democratic, economic, and social reform to the province to reverse “socialist policies.”
“After nearly a decade of socialist policies, our province is falling apart. And when I realized that none of the other parties had the integrity or courage to make the bold changes we need to survive, I knew it was time to build something new,” said Brodie.
“To reverse the flight of capital and young people, to combat the globalist assault on our history, culture, and families, to rebuild our corrupted institutions and crumbling infrastructure.”
The party made several bold policy proposals, namely a promise to cut the income tax by 50 per cent for those making $100,000 and under, and a 25 per cent tax cut for everyone else, including on corporate income.
On culture, OneBC is promising to confront the issue of declining birth rates and marriage rates, dismantle what it calls the “reconciliation industry,” forbid teacher’s unions from striking by legislating education as an essential service, and put an end to the flow of fentanyl from China.
OneBC also promises to allow British Columbians to choose private healthcare options and purchase private insurance for this care.
On democratic reform, OneBC is promising to end the practice of multi-day voting and conduct same-day, in-person voting using paper ballots, with the results being counted by hand. The party is also proposing to allow for referendums on major issues and lowering the threshold to recall an MLA.
Since the NDP lowered the threshold to achieving official party status within the legislature, OneBC will be able to obtain such status, granting them a host of privileges including receiving taxpayer funding, office space, and time during Question Period.
In a comment to True North, a spokesperson from the OneBC leader’s office alleged the party is expecting “a number of” MLAs to join in the coming months and encouraged Independent MLA Jordan Kealy to join the party.
“Jordan Kealy is welcome to join OneBC, as is any other MLA who is prepared to fight for this province with courage and integrity,” said the spokesperson.
“In the coming weeks and months, we expect a number of MLAs to join us. We are in active discussions, particularly as news has broken of the apparent election fraud committed by John Rustad and his team at the party’s last AGM.”
However, Kealy issued a statement saying he will not be joining the party, instead deciding to focus on issues that matter to his constituents.
“I want to extend my congratulations to MLA Dallas Brodie and all those involved in launching the new political party. Starting a new political movement is no small task, and I commend their commitment to bringing fresh energy and ideas to the provincial landscape,” said Kealy.
“At this time, I’ve made the decision not to join the party, as my current focus remains squarely on the people of Peace River North. As an Independent MLA, I believe I can best serve my constituents by staying rooted in the local issues that matter most.”
In March, Brodie was ousted from the party by BC Conservative leader John Rustad after a standoff over comments Brodie had made about Indigenous residential schools.
Brodie published what would become a controversial post on X, making the factual claim that there have been no confirmed child burials at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. The post triggered pushback from the NDP and her own caucus, including BC Conservative MLA and House Leader, A’aliya Warbus.
Rustad asked Brodie to delete the post and after Brodie refused, she was kicked out of caucus.
Peace River North MLA Kealy and Armstrong both promptly announced their departure from the BC Conservative caucus, citing the party’s toxicity and drift away from issues that matter to conservatives.
Rustad ejecting Brodie from the party and her subsequent creation of a new party mirrors Rustad’s journey to becoming leader of the official opposition.
Rustad was ejected from the BC Liberal Party, now BC United, by leader Kevin Falcon for comments he had made about climate change. Rustad then became leader of the BC Conservatives, poaching MLAs and public support from the party until BC United was forced to fold its campaign before election day.
Now, OneBC tells True North that they endeavour to do something similar in the next election, seeking to form government as a legitimate goal.
“We are running to win the next election. John Rustad took his party from 1 to 44 seats and he could have won if he’d only stayed true to his principles. Instead, he ran on a $12 billion deficit; he embraced UNDRIP and DRIPA; and he went soft on SOGI,” said a OneBC spokesperson.
“OneBC will fight for the changes that BC actually needs to survive: big cuts to taxes, spending, and red tape to trigger an economic boom; defending our history, culture, and families; and rebuilding healthcare and other public infrastructure by bringing back the competition, capital, and innovation of the private sector.”