The first full day of the election campaign started with a physically-distanced press conference by Sonia Furstenau, leader of the BC Green Party.
There’s just 31 days to go. And B.C.’s political parties are scrambling to fill each of BC’s 87 ridings.
“We have two acclaimed candidates, Adam Olsen for Saanich North and the Islands. And myself for Cowichan Valley. We are really excited about the candidates stepping forward,” Furstenau said on Tuesday morning.
That’s two out of 87 for the BC Greens on the one week anniversary of Furstenau’s leadership. The other parties are ahead. BC NDP has 47 candidates, including eight for Vancouver Island. Nine are declared for the BC Liberals with three running on the island.
A long leadership battle and a close connection to their grassroots, means the BC Greens are playing catch-up according to Royal Roads University historian and expert in political communication, David Black.
“The BC Greens are a different kind of political animal in the province. Mainly they do politics in ways that often take more time,” Black said.
Jonathan Dickie, a political strategist who works on campaigns for the Greens both provincially and federally, agrees.
“Yes. I think they really need to fight to hold on to their two ridings. Any more than that, they’ll really need to identify the ridings where they may have a chance,” Dickie said.
The BC Greens say they will run a province-wide slate of candidates in time for the Oct. 24 election date. BC Green Party Executive Director Jonina Campbell said they can do it.
“We are working to meet that threshold and we’re confident that we’ll be able to,” Campbell said.
CHEK News will be updating the list of candidates here. The full list will be put out by Elections BC after nominations close on Oct. 2.
Mary Griffin
