A Semiahmoo Peninsula MLA has crossed the floor to join a different party.
Surrey South MLA Elenore Sturko has left BC United and joined the Conservative Party of BC in an effort to 鈥渞ebuild the coalition that鈥檚 needed to defeat the NDP.鈥�
Sturko, a former RCMP spokesperson and military veteran, was elected in a byelection in 2022, winning 52 percent of the vote.
鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to dismiss the polls, but it鈥檚 impossible to dismiss what I hear on the doorstep when I鈥檓 talking to voters,鈥� said Sturko.
鈥淟ike the voters in my riding, I don鈥檛 believe the NDP deserve to win the next election, but when we split the vote we are handing them an election win, and four more years of a David Eby government that has not delivered on housing, public safety, affordability, health care, education, or mental health and addictions,鈥� Sturko said in a release.
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鈥淥ur province and its people are worse off today than they were just seven years ago when the NDP came to power. By every single measure the NDP has failed British Columbians, and splitting the vote will only reward them with an election victory they don鈥檛 deserve.鈥�
Sturko said she 鈥渢hought long and hard鈥� about making the move to the BC Conservatives and believes that 鈥渁 real coalition for common sense change鈥� is the key to winning the next election.
鈥淥n the biggest issues, including affordable housing, cancelling decriminalization of deadly drugs, fixing our broken health-care system, making our streets safe, and putting our natural resources to work growing jobs and our economy, the Conservatives make sense as that new coalition,鈥� said Sturko.
鈥淭he BC Conservatives grassroots coalition is resonating with British Columbians as the party that can beat the NDP and bring back common sense to Victoria.鈥�
Conservative leader John Rustad said Sturko will be 鈥渁 terrific addition to the team, and a practical example of the grassroots coalition that is growing across the province.鈥�
鈥淓lenore鈥檚 decision to join us reinforces that we are building a big tent, with room for everyone who wants to defeat the NDP and elect a common sense government that respects taxpayers hard earned wages,鈥� said Rustad. 鈥淚n the legislature, Elenore has distinguished herself by holding the government to account for its failed decriminalization of deadly drugs that has hurt every neighbourhood and community in our province.鈥�
Rustad added on these issues, and many others, that David Eby and the NDP have failed British Columbians and made the province unaffordable, rationed health care, raised taxes, and made it impossible to do business or get anything done in British Columbia.
Sturko said she is committed to defeating the NDP and rebuilding BC鈥檚 economy, because 鈥渁 strong economy makes everything possible.鈥�
鈥淚 felt an obligation to put everyday, hardworking British Columbians first, the same way WAC Bennett, Bill Bennett, Gordon Campbell, and Christy Clark did,鈥� said Sturko. 鈥淚n B.C., the big-tent coalition wins elections, and has a record of delivering for British Columbians. I want to help John Rustad build that grassroots coalition of conservatives, liberals, and independents into a winning team that can repair the damage caused by the NDP and their mismanagement and incompetence. British Columbians deserve more, and I believe the BC Conservatives can deliver that common sense change that everyday, hardworking people are looking for.鈥�
Elenore Sturko will be running in Surrey-Cloverdale for the Conservative Party of BC.
More to come鈥�
