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Multiple sources told Postmedia that BC United had reached an agreement with the Conservatives to drop out of the race and have some of its candidates run for their right-wing opponents in the upcoming October election.
As a result of the agreement, United Party leader Kevin Falcon will suspend his campaign amid rumors that MPs Ian Paton, Peter Milobar and Tom Shypitka, as well as Vancouver-Langara candidate Jaime Stein, will run for the Conservatives.
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In May, Falcon announced that merger talks between the two parties had broken down, accusing Conservative leader John Rustad of choosing to “reject a reasonable offer that should have prevented a vote split. In doing so, I risk another four years of an NDP government (under Premier David Eby) and further endanger the well-being of this province.”
Rustad said at the time that several previous offers to United had been rejected and that the opponents’ offer of a non-compete clause would have unfairly favoured United in protecting incumbents in safe constituencies in the north and inland.
An official announcement will be made today at 2:40 p.m. at the Vancouver Wall Centre.
More to follow …
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