With election results just a couple of days away it appears that the race is still exceedingly close.
Whatever the result, I think we can all agree that the meteoric rise of the BC Conservative Party and its recent swallowing of much of the former Liberal party of BC (BC United), has given the current NDP government a sense of urgency to justify itself to the public.
The Provincial Conservative Party surge can be attributed to the waning support of the Federal Liberal party and their governing agreement with the NDP. Federal Conservatives are way ahead in the polls and are poised to assume government - perhaps prior to the scheduled election date.
The fledgling Conservative Party in BC is in the midst of sorting itself out and has done well to check its overly right-wing candidates and some of their policies.
As in the past, the right-wing will likely consolidate the free enterprise vote and weed out some of its problematic political strategies and platforms.
This will take place in the coming months whether the party is governing or in opposition.
I think we may be looking at the early stages of a 1950’s style party reminiscent of WAC Bennett’s Social Credit.
Locally, the Conservatives did not put a candidate up to challenge incumbent Ian Paton prior to the demise of BC United because they knew they would have a tough time beating him at the polls. Paton has always said he would go down with the Liberal ship, but he didn’t even get that chance when BC United completely abandoned him and other representatives.
Paton is likely hopeful that the Conservative tent will expand to eventually wrap around the centre of the voting public.
In terms of representing his constituency, Paton has been effective in opposition particularly as it has related to the farming community both locally and across the province.
In the case of South Delta, we have before us the very real chance that our MLA may be in the decision-making cabinet of the governing party and that is something that South Deltan’s should look forward to.
