FORSETH – How do we decide who’s blue enough to be a Conservative?

 AS OF FRIDAY (Jan. 30), there are now eight individuals who have put their names forward to lead the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Having been involved with B.C.’s Conservatives since 2010, and having seen MANY ups and downs, having eight people say, “I want to lead the party” is to me, an incredible turn-around from the past.

Sadly, however, it seems that our party cannot seem to shake what I, and others, call a purity test of ‘what is a Conservative’. And that seems to have come to the forefront of the campaign by a couple of candidates already.

Let me just say as a Conservative Party of BC member, and as someone active in the party, that frustrates me to no end.

Conservatives, more than any other political philosophy or belief, at least to me, seems to have the widest and broadest spectrum of ideals.

For the most part they are anchored by these central thoughts — smaller and less intrusive government, gradual change rather than radical, advocating for free markets, and fiscal responsibility. From there, the divisions seem endless, as shown by just these few:

Progressive conservatives … social conservatives … libertarian conservatives … centre-right conservatism … right of centre conservatives … far-right conservatives … and traditionalists.

So, with this kind of diversity, HOW is it possible to have a narrow definition of who or what is a Conservative?

I am the Admin on a political Facebook page, and there has been heated debate on this very topic.  That said, no one has yet defined what a Conservative is.  The most ardent simply say that anyone who has at one time been a BC Liberal can NEVER be a Conservative.

On that I call BS!

My question is, ‘How do we decide who is blue enough to be called a Conservative?’

Is it a multiple choice quiz?

Is it a Yes or No quiz?

Is there some kind of psychological evaluation?

Or this one, which is my favorite question to toss back at those who question anyone’s conservative bona fides:

“Is there a genetic blood test that filters conservatism?”

Here’s the thing ., and it’s something anyone that follows B.C. politics knows – or at least in my opinion — should know.

The BC NDP pretty much have a lock on 40 percent of the vote.  While their share of the vote has been decreasing over the past three elections, the BC Greens have received, on average, 15 per cent of the vote.

Those two numbers combined equal fifty-five (55) percent.

There CANNOT be any kind of a split on the centre-right, right of centre, or right.  They MUST work together to bring about the defeat of the provincial NDP in the next general election – whenever it may be.

So, my comment to the leadership candidates is this; ‘End the crap about a purity test’ … and do it today!

Here, in alphabetical order, are the websites of those currently seeking leadership of the Conservative Party of BC:

1. 1. Iain Black:www.iainblack.ca
   2. Sheldon Clare:https://www.sheldonclarebc.ca
   3. Caroline Elliott:https://www.winforbc.ca
   4. Kerry-Lynne Findlay: https://www.findlay4bc.ca
   5. Yuri Fulmer:https://teamyurifulmer.ca
   6. Darrell Jones:https://darrell4bc.ca
   7. Peter Milobar:https://www.petermilobar.ca

Warren Hamm – was first to declare but still no website currently available

Stay tuned regarding Bruce Banman – rumoured to be announcing next week

Alan Forseth is a Kamloops resident. For 40 years he has been active, in a number of capacities, in local, provincial and federal politics, including running as a candidate for the BC Reform Party in the 1996 provincial election. He is currently President of the BC Conservatives Kamloops North Thompson Riding Association. He blogs at Thoughts on BC Politics and More.