Independent candidates Stephen Johnston, Michael Humer, and Ashley Ramsay.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK

Several Independent candidates in Central Okanagan ridings, who once considered joining the BC Conservatives, are now voicing concerns about the party’s “extreme” ideology.

Dr. Michael Humer in Kelowna Centre, Ashley Ramsay in Kelowna-Mission and Stephen Johnston in West Kelowna-Peachland, considered backing the BC Conservatives when their former party BC United suspended its campaign. We wanted to know if a vote for the independent candidates was a de facto vote for the Conservatives — would they join the party if elected? — but they now say they are concerned about what would happen if British Columbians elected a majority Conservative government.

“At this particular moment, I have zero intention to join with the BC crazy Conservatives,” Ramsay said. “Frankly, they haven't had anyone elected in 50 years. And so they're going to need us. British Columbia needs us in the balance of power to get them to make decisions that are actually thoughtful.”

Humer, Ramsay and Johnston were members of BC Liberal Party turned BC United Party prior to its campaign suspension. Before the official campaign had even begun, BC United leader Kevin Falcon decided to suspend the party’s campaign and publicly support the BC Conservatives without informing most of the party’s candidates. 

Humer said there was hope that the BC Conservatives would take the opportunity to form a large-tent moderate Conservative coalition, but party leader John Rustad dashed those hopes.

READ MORE: Okanagan candidates try to navigate election campaign after BC United drops out

“We assumed that an honest attempt at getting a centre-right coalition was going to take place in order to defeat the NDP,” Humer said. “A vast majority of voters were left without a centre-right option, and it was extreme-left versus extreme-right, and therefore I'd reached out to say that if an authentic effort at a centre-right coalition was going to take place, I was willing to consider that, but no authentic effort ever took place.”

Johnston said bringing more BC United candidates into the BC Conservative party would have improved the party’s chances, and would have been better for the province.

“In a lot of ways, he was handed the golden goose on a silver platter and he just threw it in the garbage, which is astonishing. It's been disappointing to see, and I think the polls are showcasing British Columbia's disappointment in that decision as well,” Johnston said.

Although all three candidates are running as Independents, they aren’t the typical Independents. They have been vetted by a party, and they expressed common goals and interests.

READ MORE: BC Conservative Kelowna Centre candidate posted conspiracies, pandemic holocaust comparisons, and more

“We should want accountability and transparency in government, and a minority government will give you that,” Johnston said. “We talk as independents who were once BC United candidates, and we're kind of on the same page with that.”

Ramsay said Independents are free to voice their own thoughts and opinions since they won’t be whipped by a party. She also expressed concerns about the BC Conservative party's plans.

“Over the last few weeks, (BC Conservatives) have been quite extreme in what's going on in that party. Quite frankly, I couldn't really align with many of their values,” she said. “They’re wacko.”

Not all Independent candidates voiced strong concerns about BC Conservatives

Independent candidates Greg McCune and Kevin Acton.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK

Some Independents were hesitant to criticize the BC Conservative party, and instead focused on their ability to break away from big party politics. 

Vernon-Lumby’s Independent candidate Kevin Acton said some of the social media posts that surfaced recently had raised some concerns for him, but he said he doesn’t want to judge candidates based on their social media posts.

“It does make me a little nervous that they are so far right and (the party) did not pick up some of the centre right candidates for sure,” Acton said.

He expressed excitement about the possibility of a group of elected Independents having some sway in the legislature, however, he said Independents have to work with whatever party is doing what is best for their riding. 

“If a large group of Independents get in, then there will be a lot of control over policy,” Acton said. “I've been hearing for years now about how people are sick and tired of the big party politics and the partisan politics, the total control. And I think people are kind of getting more warmed up to the idea of having some Independents in there anyways.”

Salmon Arm-Shuswap BC United candidate turned Independent Greg McCune couldn’t say if some of the strong BC United candidates left behind by the BC Conservatives could prove to be a formidable force in this election.

“I believe there’s going to be six or seven of them, so I think it'll be the parties working with the Independents to provide the best government possible for B.C.,” McCune said. “If there's just one Independent person, then you would have to go to one party one way or the other. The majority of the Independents are all Conservatives, so it would naturally go to the Conservative Party.”

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