Liberal MLA John van Dongen was a firm supporter of George Abbott in his bid for the BC Liberal leadership, and now that Christy Clark has emerged victorious after the BC Liberals had their say yesterday, one has to wonder if van Dongen is considering a move to another party.
After all, as Rod Mickleburgh reported for the Globe and Mail yesterday:
Former cabinet minister and current MLA John van Dongen says he will have to re-assess his future in the Liberal caucus, should Christy Clark win the party’s leadership race.
“I’ll go in with an open mind, but I have some serious questions,” said Mr. van Dongen, a strong supporter of candidate George Abbott.
“I will be interested in seeing how she deals with caucus, and then I will make my decision.”
He said Ms. Clark faces a difficult task trying to unite the Liberals’ 47-member caucus if she emerges as the party’s new leader and premier-designate, noting that she attracted support from only one MLA.
“It’s a big worry. I think it will be tough for her,” said Mr. van Dongen, taking a brief break from working the phones in Mr. Abbott’s campaign headquarters.
“There’s a reason, and a legitimate reason, why virtually all of the caucus worked for [either George Abbott or Kevin Falcon]....You can’t expect all of them to suddenly flip over and support a leader they didn’t support during the campaign.”
Both Mr. Abbott and another of his prominent supporters, cabinet minister Steve Thomson have indicated they will unite behind whoever becomes premier, if it’s not Mr. Abbott.
While stressing that he would maintain an “open mind” during Ms. Clark’s early days, should she take over government, Mr. van Dongen said his main goal is to have a “continuous, credible, centre-right, free-enterprise option. That’s my mission all along.”
The BC Conservatives have already been rather gleefully predicting that Clark's victory yesterday means that the Liberal coalition is "dead," and have been quick to welcome any liberal defectors that might want to head their way. It will be interesting to see if John van Dongen, who is already somewhat of a black sheep in the Liberal caucus thanks to his driving habits, takes up the invitation.
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