Former BC Energy Minister Bill Bennett BC Legislature in Victoria on the day he was fired from cabinet. Nov. 17, 2010Deddeda Stemler for the Globe and Mail
Bill Bennett, the independent member of the B.C. legislature seeking to return to the BC Liberal caucus, is not ruling out a move to the B.C. Conservative Party.
The Kootenay East MLA was infamously fired as energy minister by his cabinet colleagues for criticizing the departure timetable of former premier Gordon Campbell late last year, then booted from caucus. It remains to be seen if he will be allowed back in.
Asked on Thursday about a move to the BC Conservatives, Mr. Bennett said to stay tuned.
"I won't have anything to say about my future for another week or two," he said.
The three-term MLA described "a sensitive situation right now," on the whole issue, but did not elaborate.
John Cummins, the former Tory MP likely to be endorsed as the new leader of the provincial Conservatives at a May 28 party convention, said the party has discussed the Bennett issue, but decided they would have to make a group decision on whether to welcome him.
"I'm not at liberty to comment on that," he said.
Mr. Cummins is the only candidate in the race to lead the BC Conservatives, which has no members in the legislature right now, and has not been a force in provincial politics for decades.
BC Liberals, as well as former Tory MPs including Stockwell Day and Jay Hill, have warned a surging BC Conservative party could split the centre-right vote in the province, allowing the provincial New Democrats to win the next election.
Mr. Bennett said the provincial conservatives represent a challenge for the governing BC Liberals, but have been "manageable" in his riding.
"There's lots of conservatives here and the BC Liberal brand has always been a bit of a challenge over the years. The BC Conservatives represent the obvious vote-splitting potential," he said.
In the 2009 provincial election, Mr. Bennett won 50 per cent of the vote compared to 10 per cent for Wilf Hanni, then the leader of the BC Conservatives.
But Mr. Bennett said rookie Premier Christy Clark is handling the overall situation as best as was possible under the circumstances..
"[She's]on the right track. She has a very well known conservative in the name of Kevin Falcon as her Finance Minister. She has a very well known conservative in the name of Rich Coleman as her Energy Minister.
"She obviously has done enough to earn the support of people like Stockwell Day and Jay Hill. Those are going to be strong voices for the BC Liberal coalition.
"Obviously, she knows there's a threat there and I think she will do the right thing to hold the coalition together. It's going to be essential."
Ian Bailey