The news this afternoon that BC United (BCU), formerly the mighty BC Liberals, was terminating its campaign for the October provincial election marks the end of a certain type of centrism in Canada that endured for more than two decades. Yes, that mythical blend of fiscal conservatism and social liberalism has firmly and finally gone out of style.  

Barring a rebellion from remaining BCU MLAs and backers, BC Conservatives and their blend of social, cultural, and fiscal conservatism have unambiguously become the most powerful anti-NDP force in the province for this generation. The dominance of the Conservatives and their leader John Rustad among centre-right voters has been evident for months, a reality that BCU Leader Kevin Falcon has has finally come to terms with. In a statement Wednesday, Falcon encouraged his party’s supporters to back the Conservatives to “prevent another four years of disastrous NDP government,” and said that some BCU candidates will now run under the Conservative banner.