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. United鈥檚 director of communications, said in an emailed statement to Black Press Media that the party does not respond to questions resulting from 鈥渁nonymous social media accounts or websites.鈥�
But Wilson added that there is 鈥渘o evidence it is run by any former members of (B.C.) United鈥� and that 鈥渋s more likely another underhanded scheme from John Rustad鈥檚 (B.C.) Conservatives after he torpedoed negotiations last week.鈥�
Provincial Conservatives said in a statement that they do not know who made this website.
鈥淥ur candidates have been asked not to get involved with this BCU infighting,鈥� it reads.
When asked for comment about B.C. United鈥檚 claims, the Conservatives repeated their statement: 鈥淲e have no idea who made this website.鈥�
Several attempts by Black Press Media to contact the self-described 鈥済roup of long-time (B.C.) Liberal activists鈥� claiming to be behind resignkevin.ca have gone unanswered.
The website blames Falcon for a 鈥渟eries of decisions and actions that have harmed the chances of defeating the NDP鈥� following his 鈥渋ll-considered return to politics鈥� as leader of then B.C. Liberals, now B.C. United.
鈥淚t鈥檚 time for a change within United to move forward from the biggest impediment to a free enterprise cooperation agreement in British Columbia,鈥� it reads. 鈥淔or the sake of all British Columbians, Kevin Falcon must do the right thing and step aside.鈥�
The website argues that Falcon鈥檚 resignation 鈥渨ill allow for real conversations and negotiations to happen between the free enterprise parties鈥� that would be 鈥渇ree from ego, based on current political realities and grounded in a workable solution鈥� to defeat the B.C. NDP.
The website acknowledges Falcon鈥檚 resignation 鈥渋sn鈥檛 an ideal course of action鈥� but sees few alternatives.
鈥�(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.鈥�
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According to publicly available information, the website went online on May 21 鈥� one day before the second and final of two ultimately unsuccessful meetings between 鈥渢rusted emissaries鈥� from both parties to sound out 鈥渃ommon ground鈥� 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. United鈥檚 鈥済enerous鈥� proposal for a non-competition agreement between the two parties.
鈥淚 have to tell you today that John Rustad ultimately made the decision that that鈥檚 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,鈥� Falcon said.
Rustad responded by saying that B.C. United鈥檚 non-competition agreement was not a serious offer and would have led to another NDP government.
鈥淜evin Falcon says publicly that he wants to put his ego aside, but privately, any discussions or 鈥榦ffers鈥� have been completely unserious and dishonest,鈥� 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) 鈥� albeit not together 鈥� on a popular morning radio show airing across Greater Victoria.
B.C.鈥檚 Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said his government is focused on making sure people have supports they need. 鈥�(Kevin) Falcon and John Rustad continue to be focused on fighting each other.鈥�
