Dale Parker (left) was the announced BC United candidate for Nanaimo-Gabriola, before Wednesday's announcement by the party. Viraat BK Thammanna (right) has been asked by the BC Conservatives to step aside in the days since. (submitted photos)

By Alex Rawnsley

candidate changes

Nanaimo-Gabriola candidates shuffle amid BC United/Conservative merger

Aug 30, 2024 | 2:21 PM

NANAIMO — The list of candidates vying to represent the newly redrawn provincial Nanaimo-Gabriola Island riding is changing minute by minute.

Online profiles and news releases promoting previously announced BC Conservative candidate Viraat BK Thammanna were removed from the party website Friday, Aug. 30 after he was asked by the party to suspend his campaign.

Thammanna told NanaimoNewsNOW he was unable to sleep last night after a call from the party and an eventful week which saw BC United suspend its election campaign and support the Conservatives moving forward to avoid a centre-right vote split in this fall’s B.C. election.

“I felt betrayal in a way because four months of hard work. I have t-shirts printed, I’ve distributed 5,000 cards…printed another 10,000 cards, banners. There’s so many things going on, fundraising I’ve already raised $5,000 and planning to raise more.”

As part of the deal, the Conservatives agreed to a full review of their candidates with the view of folding some announced BC United candidates into the party in key ridings.

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Thammanna added he was just awaiting further instructions on what to do, but confirmed he’d been simply asked to step aside.

“It’s a shock…but I’m not going to let my party down. I’ll see what my party leader John Rustad, what kind of plan he has for me.”

Announced BC United candidate Dale Parker said he’s also unsure about what is to come.

He was on vacation and out of cell service in Strathcona Provincial Park just before the announcement was made on Wednesday, Aug. 28.

“As soon as I got into cell service, my phone blew up. I immediately received a note there was a caucus and candidates call so I was luckily able to attend that, Kevin Falcon joined the call and shared the news with all of us.”

Parker said the call was “somewhat brief”, he then tuned into the subsequent news conference to learn more details.

He said its been a difficult time since for him and his team of volunteers.

“We’ve been working seven days a week…long days, every single day to try to get prepared for the election and do the ground work.”

Parker, who lives in Mill Bay, expects results of the candidate review to come over the long weekend, with an announcement of those moving forward early next week.

“I would run for the Conservatives, based on the upping of the vetting process, a more stringent vetting process would align with me. Some of that would improve the party and I’m still interested in representing Nanaimo-Gabriola.”

The BC Conservatives have not announced a candidate for the riding.

Incumbent MLA Sheila Malcolmson will run again for the NDP in the riding, with the BC Greens have named Shirley Lambrecht as their candidate.

General election day is Oct. 19.

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