Kevin Falcon made the correct call this week when he put the future of the province ahead of his personal ambitions. By collapsing the BC United campaign, Falcon set the stage for what will be, basically, a clear choice between two quite different paths ahead.
Falcon is one of the most qualified politicians in the province, a veteran of the former sa国际传媒 Liberal government and a success in private enterprise. He is a moderate and far closer to the centre in his vision than either Premier David Eby or Conservative leader John Rustad.
But Falcon recognized that the Conservatives had the momentum that his United party lacked. Despite its best efforts, it was clear that Falcon’s team could not engage with enough voters before the Oct. 19 election. That meant that once again, two right-of-centre parties would split the vote and allow Eby’s New Democrats a great chance at a majority government.
Since succeeding the moderate, centrist John Horgan, Eby has taken the party to the hard left. Given that most voters are close to the centre in their thinking, Eby’s moves have been unquestionably daring — but not necessarily the best for the majority of British Columbians.
Consider the outrageous rise in government spending, with no matching improvement in services. Consider the crises in health care, housing and the economy as a whole. Consider the slow progress on the replacement of the Massey Tunnel, which directly affects southern Vancouver Island.
Or, as Falcon put it this week: Since taking office in 2017, the NDP government doubled the provincial debt to more than $100 billion, gave us the largest deficit in provincial history, and we have never seen worse outcomes in health care, crime, public safety and drugs.
At a minimum, the province needs a strong Opposition that can challenge the party in power, and provide a cohesive alternative in the next election. We didn’t have that while the Conservatives and the Uniteds were taking shots at each other.
While Falcon believed he offered the best platform for the province, he could see the need to compromise. That meant giving up — for now, at least — his dream of becoming premier.
Let’s hope that the others in his party, and in the Conservatives, can follow his lead and work together, quickly, to create a party that will work on behalf of all British Columbians.
Let’s also hope that Rustad will listen to Falcon, and respect the work that Falcon has done to create a credible team of candidates. That will mean, in some cases, asking Conservative candidates to step aside and allow more qualified United picks to take their place.
This might not be an easy ask after the very public fight over climate change between Falcon and Rustad, which resulted in Rustad leaving Falcon’s caucus. Rustad’s list of candidates included too many with fringe ideas about health, 5G networks and more.
Proper vetting is needed, and if that is done, the party will end up with a more moderate, and more electable, list of candidates.
What’s next for Falcon? As he said Wednesday, he will work with Rustad to assemble the best possible team of MLAs and candidates, which will ensure that the Conservatives offer a viable alternative to the New Democrats. If voters prefer the hard left to the hard right, so be it — but at least the alternative vision will have been offered.
After that? Falcon is barely into his 60s, and he has experience in private business, in public life and in non-profits. We haven’t heard the last of him, and he can be expected to continue to do what he can to make British Columbia a better place to live, work and play.
Falcon saw what was needed and acted. He sacrificed his personal goals for the betterment of everyone. It was the right call, one that we see too rarely in political circles.
As Kevin Falcon moves out of the spotlight, he has earned our respect.
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