The B.C. Conservatives are having a leadership debate tonight, but the NDP is slamming the party for its choice of platform hosting it.
Tonight’s debate will be hosted by Juno News, which the NDP claims is a media group that “platforms white supremacy.”
“B.C. Conservative leadership candidates will attend a debate tonight hosted by Juno News, an outlet that promotes the views of The Dominion Society and its founder Daniel Tyrie, whom former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney called ‘racist,‘” a release from the NDP says.
Juno News was co-founded by Keean Bexte, a former reporter and on-air personality for Rebel News. Bexte famously disrupted a vacation former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was on with his family in 2024. The other founder is former Toronto Sun journalist Candice Malcolm.
B.C. Premier David Eby, who was declared one of the least popular provincial leaders in the entire country last month, slammed the Juno News debate.
“I’m incredibly disappointed that the Conservatives have chosen to hold a debate with a far-right-wing news outlet that promotes white supremacy, white supremacist views,” he said in Kamloops today.
“I’ll take a moment to recognize that Caroline Elliott has opted out of this debate. I think that’s the right decision. And I hope that the Conservatives as a whole will commit, if Ms. Elliott is elected, to no longer advertising on this platform,” Eby said.
Eby added, “It’s surprising and disturbing to me that they’re using their money to prop up this news outlet that platforms far-right views, including that there should be a mass deportation of Canadians, and other incredibly offensive and bizarre viewpoints. They should not be supported by any leadership candidates for political parties in British Columbia.”
The sold-out debate is going to be held at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster, moderated by Lindsay Shepherd and Aaron Gunn, who is no stranger to making headlines. Shepherd is a columnist and a contributor to the True North Centre for Public Policy.
The candidates who are vying for B.C. Conservative Party leadership include Iain Black, Caroline Elliott, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Yuri Fulmer, Warren Hamm and Peter Milobar.
However, Elliott and Milobar won’t be attending the debate.
In a post on X, former B.C. Conservative Party leader John Rustad threw a subtle shot at the candidates not participating, saying, “Leadership means showing up and doing the hard things. It means answering the tough questions from the people you want to lead.”
Surrey NDP MLA Jagrup Brar echoed Eby’s sentiments, suggesting that Juno platforms racism.
“Jason Kenney called it out. This group has used Juno’s profile to attack people in Surrey for the colour of their skin, to call for deporting 9 million people, some of them Canadian citizens,” Brar said.
“The B.C. Conservatives should be going nowhere near this. Until Juno cuts ties with white supremacy, the B.C. Conservatives should pull their advertising and their leadership candidates from this debate,” Brar added.
Daily Hive has reached out to the B.C. Conservatives for a response to the concerns.
Bexte responded to Eby’s remarks on X.
Yes, I have seen the extremely disturbing and defamatory remarks made by BC NDP Premier Mr. David Eby about Juno News just moments ago. Mr. Eby must apologize and retract his statements.
We will be in touch, David.
— Keean Bexte (@TheRealKeean) April 8, 2026
Bexte also issued a warning to legacy media outlets.
David Eby has stooped to smearing Juno News with a disgusting and baseless slurs.
In the final stretch of his premiership, he appears more interested in vilifying critical journalists than answering for his government’s record. This was a reckless political cheap shot aimed at…
— Keean Bexte (@TheRealKeean) April 8, 2026
The new Conservative leader will be announced on May 30, 2026.
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