Former BC United MLA Karin Kirkpatrick has registered a new political party in British Columbia that she hopes will be a "moderate" alternative.
She had been a major critic of Kevin Falcon's decision to fold her the party to which she had initially belonged, and suggested many of her fellow British Columbians felt the same.
"Something was done to this province by the BC Conservatives and BC United to try and tell us who we are supposed to be voting for," she said in a press conference in West Vancouver, on Thursday, "and taking away and disenfranchising the voting right and ability for many moderate people across British Columbia."
Upon hearing of the news that Kirkpatrick had kickstarted Centre BC, Premier David Eby appeared unsurprised, noting that "the former BC Liberal party is fracturing into multiple parts these days and we'll see where everything land."
"I wish her the best of luck in terms of her new initiative," he added.
According to Elections BC, Kirkpatrick is listed as the leader of Centre BC. She was one of dozens of former BC United MLAs who ran, unsuccessfully, as Independents in the 2024 election.
A poll conducted by Research Co. in March revealed that 48% of British Columbians think there should be a "centre-right party to serve as an alternative to the BC NDP and the BC Conservatives," a position previously filled by BC United.
Support for such a party was steady across the demographic and political spectrum.
