Beyond the Ballot: After US betrayal, Canada should 'be the beautiful woman' who finds 'a new boyfriend'

There was an abundance of topics for Kelowna businesswoman Renee Merrifield to discuss on this week’s episode of Beyond the Ballot.

The former Kelowna–Mission MLA offered her perspective on the turmoil within the Conservative Party of BC, the US’s ongoing trade war with Canada and more.

On the subject of the defection of three BC Conservative MLAs, she said that when her former party, the BC Liberals/BC United, stepped aside to give the BC Conservatives a free run at the NDP in the election, John Rustad fumbled his opportunity.

Rustad could have told his BC Conservative candidates “I can’t have all of you” and selected more people from BC United to get the best people from both parties.

“He did not do that,” she said. “Instead, he kept basically the BC Conservative candidates, replaced a couple of them, sort of trickled a few in ... And in the end, he is suffering because of it.”

She also said that the cause of the defections – an MLA refusing to back down on a controversial point – was “almost the exact same scenario” as when Rustad himself was kicked out of the BC Liberals.

“History is repeating itself,” she said.

Merrifield also had some strong words for Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong, who was one of the three BC Conservatives to leave the party.

“I take exception to her,” she said. “She got all over X this weekend and was touting the fact that she was elected by British Columbians and that is who her mandate is from. And I was almost beside myself; I saw Pavneet Singh step down and step aside to say, I will support Tara in her run. Tara was a parachute candidate from who knows where, I don't even know.

“She owns a house, not in her own riding. She has, since becoming an MLA, moved lock, stock, and barrel, her and her husband, to Victoria. They do not come back on weekends. They are not at constituents' events. I have not seen her at a single event since she became an MLA. She has not visited.”

She added: “She is not supported by British Columbians … I do not think that she would win as an independent in that riding.”

In her discussion with Jim Csek on Tuesday, Merrifield also said:

• Canada is now in a “full-blown trade war” with the US

• If the carbon tax is replaced with another tax on emissions, it will “still hurt the consumers in Canada”

• Premier David Eby’s decision to remove American booze off BC Liquor shelves was “performative” and a “tiny drop in the bucket”

• Tolls on American drivers heading to Alaska through BC are “ridiculous” and “not legal”

• Donald Trump’s 51st state jibes towards Canada have become “a little bit scary”

• Canada should “be the beautiful woman who is just going to go and find a new boyfriend” after the US’s betrayal

• John Rustad could try to “build bridges” with BC United in the aftermath of three of his MLAs leaving the party

• Alberta has been treated like “the plague” by the rest of Canada

Thumbnail photo credit: The White House