7.18°C Vancouver

Sep 17, 2024 6:58 PM - The Canadian Press

Former cabinet minister appeals to Elections B.C. to register New Liberal Party of BC

Share On
former-cabinet-minister-appeals-to-elections-b-c-to-register-new-liberal-party-of-bc
Dhaliwal says he wants "moderate, centrist" voters to get behind the New Liberal Party of BC in time for the election on October 19.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Former federal cabinet minister Herb Dhaliwal says he wants to revive a liberal party for those left politically homeless in British Columbia after the BC United Party suspended its campaign in the upcoming provincial election.

Dhaliwal says he wants "moderate, centrist" voters to get behind the New Liberal Party of BC in time for the election on October 19.

Dhaliwal says in a statement that the former BC Liberal Party that rebranded as BC United was doomed by a "backroom deal" with the BC Conservative Party that left moderate voters without a "preferred political choice on the ballot."

The former federal cabinet minister who left his Vancouver-area riding in 2004 says Leader Kevin Falcon's suspension of the BC United campaign "betrayed" supporters, and the province risks returning to a "dysfunctional" state of "polarizing right versus left combat."

Dhaliwal says an attempt to register the party under the name "New Liberal Party of BC" was rejected by Elections BC on technical grounds and he's now hired a lawyer to contest the rejection.

A letter from lawyer Joven Narwal to Elections BC says the agency declined to register the name due to potential voter confusion, but adding "not associated with BC United" or a similar phrase to the ballot could avoid "any conceivable confusion in the minds of voters."

Latest news

six-charged-after-800k-in-stolen-vehicles-recovered-in-gta-carjacking-probe
BCMar 23, 2026

Six charged after $800K in stolen vehicles recovered in GTA carjacking probe

Police say eight high-end vehicles worth an estimated $800,000 have been recovered following an investigation into a series of violent carjackings across the Greater Toronto Area. According to a release from the Toronto Police Service’s Central Robbery Bureau, officers began investigating after multiple reports of armed carjackings between Jan. 18 and Feb. 1. Investigators allege the suspects targeted luxury vehicles, primarily Mercedes-Benz models, during the incidents. Police said the investigation, dubbed Project Stratis, found the accused were allegedly involved not only in carrying out
police-investigate-early-morning-shooting-at-cloverdale-business
BCMar 23, 2026

Police investigate early-morning shooting at Cloverdale business

Police in Surrey are investigating an early-morning shooting that damaged a commercial property in the Cloverdale area, with no injuries reported. According to a Surrey Police Service news release, officers with the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit responded at about 3:35 a.m. to reports of gunfire in the 5400 block of Production Boulevard. Attending officers found a business that had sustained damage. No one was hurt in the incident, police said. The RCMP SPOSU General Investigation Unit has taken over the file. Investigators say the case remains in its early stages and evidence
alberta-premier-expresses-condolences-after-air-canada-express-crash-in-new-york
AlbertaMar 23, 2026

Alberta premier expresses condolences after Air Canada Express crash in New York

Danielle Smith says she is extending condolences to the families of those killed following a crash involving an Air Canada Express flight in New York City. In a statement, Smith said she shares sympathies with the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident. According to Air Canada, the aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members at the time of the crash, which occurred late Sunday after arriving in New York. The airline said both the pilot and co-pilot were killed. Both were identified as Canadian. U.S. authorities said 41 people were tr
federal-audit-flags-gaps-in-international-student-program-oversight-thousands-of-cases-uninvestigated
CanadaMar 23, 2026

Federal audit flags gaps in international student program oversight, thousands of cases uninvestigated

Canada’s auditor general says there are significant weaknesses in how the federal government monitors compliance within the international student program, raising concerns about oversight and enforcement. In a report released Monday, Auditor General Karen Hogan found that roughly 150,000 cases in 2023 and 2024 were flagged for potential non-compliance with study permit conditions, according to the audit of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Despite the volume of flagged cases, the report says only about 4,000 investigations were initiated. Of those, approximately 1,600 were deemed
b-c-lifts-all-flood-advisories-as-river-levels-recede-after-heavy-rainfall
BCMar 23, 2026

B.C. lifts all flood advisories as river levels recede after heavy rainfall

All flood advisories across southern British Columbia have been lifted following several days of heavy rainfall linked to an atmospheric river system, according to the B.C. River Forecast Centre. In an update issued Sunday, the centre said there are no active flood advisories remaining, and water levels are continuing to recede after widespread rain and snowmelt. The agency noted that while some larger and lake-fed river systems remain elevated, flows are expected to ease through the week. The centre added that forecast precipitation midweek could lead to minor and temporary increases in small

Related News