The leader of OneBC says a best-case scenario for her party in Saturday’s provincial election would be to have voters send enough of her candidates to Victoria that they can play a crucial role in what gets prioritized in the legislature. Dallas Brodie ran as a Conservative when she won Vancouver-Quilchena in 2024. But an acrimonious split from the party led to the formation of OneBC. Brodie says if enough of the 33 candidates the party is running get elected, in a minority government situation they could have significant influence on the Conservative caucus. “We will be the real conservatives in the (legislature), holding the line. Sort of like the Greens hold the NDP -- hold the line for the hardcore Green people. We would be there to make sure that we don’t go wobbly,” she said during an interview with CTV News at the party’s election headquarters on Vancouver’s westside. While many on the political right see avoiding culture wars and focusing on nuts-and-bolts issues like finances, healthcare and infrastructure as a path to victory – Brodie takes a different view. “People who don’t like that, they’re calling it a culture war. It is a war because we’ve been bowled over by one battalion that’s been pushing this on us. A lot of people didn’t ask for this, so don’t be surprised when there’s pushback,” she said, in reference to social issues. In particular, Brodie wants to repeal legislation mandating SOGI 123, a bundle of resources on sexual orientation and gender identity available in BC schools. Brodie also wants to draw a hard line on reconciliation, calling the BC treaty process one-sided and vowing to take a more adversarial and litigious approach with First Nations chiefs. “They need to stop pulling apart our province. They need to stop. They need to look at their own greed,” she said. “They need to look at what they’re doing here. What are you trying to do to British Columbia? This is the golden goose, and you are killing it.” Brodie is fighting for her political life in Vancouver-Quilchena – in an election she said never should have been called because David Eby and his NDP had two years left on their mandate and held a slim majority in the legislature. “This is political opportunism at its worst. And this is a province that is already in almost a $14-billion deficit,” Brodie said. “This election is going to cost the better part of $ 100 million.” Each of the major parties is running candidates in the riding. Carson Binda is running for the Conservatives, Callista Ryan for the NDP, Douglas Courtmanche for the Green Party and Petra Kuret for CentreBC. Win or lose on Saturday, Brodie says she will leave this campaign with her head held high and her principles intact. “I think that I’ve done a duty and a service to British Columbia, a province that I absolutely love, and a city that I’m a fifth-generation person of,” she said. “And I feel like I will have done something for my ancestors who built this place.”
