The leader of the BC Conservatives says it was the Liberals' tarnished reputation, not vote splitting, that allowed the NDP to sweep Thursday's two byelections – and he has zero interest in forming a centre-right coalition.
John Cummins says his upstart free enterprise party is gaining momentum by the minute, whereas years of scandals have left the governing Liberals hemorrhaging support.
"There's no interest in a coalition with this party," Cummins said. "They can't tell the truth, they can't keep an election promise, they reversed themselves too many times and the public has no confidence in them."
After the Liberals' fruitless campaigns in Chilliwack-Hope and Port Moody-Coquitlam, some in the party accused the Conservatives of setting the stage for an NDP majority in next year's provincial election. But Cummins argues that the Liberals' defeat is a foregone conclusion.
"The reality is, it doesn't matter whether we're in this race… these guys are discredited," he said.
The leader also boasted that Thursday's results prove his party, which has yet to win a seat in the provincial legislature, is solidifying its political presence.
Conservative candidate John Martin secured roughly 850 fewer votes than the second-place Liberal Laurie Throness in Chilliwack, who was about 1,400 behind the NDP's Gwen O'Mahony.
Christine Clarke didn't fare as well in Port Moody, however, garnering less than 1,800 votes against Liberal Dennis Marsden's roughly 3,400. Former Port Moody mayor Joe Trasolini outstripped his competitors' combined total with more than 6,000 votes.
