4 candidates short, BC Green Party goes ahead with 83 contenders
The BC Greens have failed to fill all 87 ridings ahead of the BC election, but say they are still satisfied with its total of 83 confirmed candidates.
“I am incredibly proud of the team of candidates that have stepped up to run with the BC Greens,” said Andrew Weaver, leader of the BC Green Party, in a release.
Weaver also commended the party’s field team “on a job well done.” With 82 non-incumbent candidates out of 83, Weaver called the nomination process “rigorous.”
Green Party spokesperson Jillian Oliver told Daily Hive new candidates had to be vetted to “ensure they can represent the BC Greens and the people they would like to represent.”
Although the Green Party hasn’t managed to run in every riding, their number of candidates is much higher than at the previous BC election, when they only fielded 61 candidates.
Oliver added there is an “enormous and disproportionate responsibility” on a small party to fill 87 ridings “when other parties, with their dozens of incumbents, already have more than a third of the ridings filled.”
A further challenge, she explained, comes from the fact that the Green Party doesn’t accept corporate and union donations.
“That was a risk but we did it because it was the right thing to do, and we stand by our decision,” she said.
For his part, Weaver is happy with how his team has come together, regardless of the total.
“These are 83 outstanding individuals who have stepped aside from their careers as scientists, firefighters and business and community leaders to serve their communities,” he said.
“I look forward to the weeks ahead as we travel the province talking with British Columbians about our vision for change they can count on.”
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