PoCo Mayor Rejects Provincial Jump Amid Unite-the-Right Merger Discussions

In a surprising turn of events, Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West has declined an offer to help unite the fractured right wing of B.C.’s provincial politics. The mayor cited his young children as his top priority, stating, “My priority is to be the dad I want to be to them and everything comes second.”

After news broke that business leaders were courting West to lead a potentially merged BC United-BC Conservative party, the mayor received overwhelming support from the public. In the past 24 hours, he has received over 1,000 messages, showing a clear appetite for change in provincial politics.

However, despite the interest in West, BC Conservative Leader John Rustad clarified that they were interested in him as a candidate, not a leader. The Conservatives have since ruled out any merger talks with BC United, with Rustad affirming that he will remain the leader of the party.

The political landscape in B.C. remains tumultuous, with the BC NDP leading in recent polls but facing challenges from both BC Conservative and BC United candidates. BC United Leader Kevin Falcon emphasized the need for mainstream, moderate leadership, while the NDP vowed to continue working towards meeting the needs of British Columbians.

The chaotic events of the past 24 hours have highlighted the unpredictable nature of politics in B.C., with the province remaining a battleground for competing ideologies and parties. Despite the drama, one thing is clear: Brad West’s decision has sparked a conversation about the future of politics in the province.