One of Abbotsfordsa国际传媒檚 MLAs has left the BC United political party.
Bruce Banman, MLA for Abbotsford South, announced Wednesday that hesa国际传媒檚 joined the Conservative Party of British Columbia after sa国际传媒渃areful consideration.sa国际传媒�
In a press release he said he is proud to join his sa国际传媒渇riend John Rustad as the voice for everyday hardworking people and that the Conservatives are the sa国际传媒渙nly party that stands for whatsa国际传媒檚 right in the legislature, rather than whatsa国际传媒檚 politically convenient or politically correct.sa国际传媒�
Banman was elected in 2020 as a BC Liberal, the former name of BC United, with 44 per cent of the vote. At the time he was also an Abbotsford city councillor, a role he had held since 2018. He stepped down from council in February 2021 to focus solely on being MLA. That triggered by-election for one city council seat, which was won by Dave Sidhu.
Prior to that, he was mayor of Abbotsford from 2011 to 2014.
On Wednesday, he said he moved parties because the Conservatives have sa国际传媒渃ommon sense.sa国际传媒�
The Conservative Party of British Columbia has made history today! Please join us in welcoming Dr. Bruce Banman to our caucus! A strong and principled advocate for his constituents, Bruce will sit as our second MLA in the legislature.
sa国际传媒� Conservative Party of BC (@Conservative_BC)
Release:
sa国际传媒淲e donsa国际传媒檛 support Trudeau-backed policies like the punishing carbon tax that hurts everyday people; we refuse to condone the ideological NDP education agenda that teaches students what to think instead of how to think; and, we will never support the myth of safe supply that kills British Columbians and poisons our communities with hard drugs,sa国际传媒� he said.
sa国际传媒淚 believe B.C. needs a leader who is a straight up, decent human being sa国际传媒� and a party thatsa国际传媒檚 willing to put politics aside to stand for whatsa国际传媒檚 right.sa国际传媒�
He said Rustad is that leader.
Banman is now the second MLA in the province under the Conservative banner, the same number as the Green Party. This also will give them official party status.
He was serving as the BC Unitedsa国际传媒檚 shadow minister for Emergency Management, Climate Readiness and Citizen Services.
BC United leader Kevin Falcon said Banmansa国际传媒檚 departure sa国际传媒渨as not entirely unexpected due to ongoing internal management challenges with Brucesa国际传媒� and that sa国际传媒渉is decision betrays the Abbotsford constituents who elected him as a member of our team. But as we move forward, our focus remains unwavering.sa国际传媒�
Falcon added that sa国际传媒渙ur focus will remain on championing big ideas and nominating incredible candidates sa国际传媒� including in Abbotsford South sa国际传媒� who will work to restore confidence in British Columbia.sa国际传媒�
Abbotsford South has a history of MLAs leaving the Liberals. John van Dongen was elected a Liberal in 2009, then left the party to sit as a Conservative, then as an independent. Darryl Plecas was elected as a Liberal in 2013 and then left the party to sit as an independent.
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