VANCOUVER — Caroline Elliott would take B.C. backwards by doubling down on failed B.C. Liberal policies that cost British Columbians more. 

Elliott was a B.C. Liberal staffer for years under Gordon Campbell before going into academia and consulting. She was Kevin Falcon’s most steadfast ally, self-describing as “a long-time supporter like me who has known Falcon personally and professionally for nearly two decades.” She was a party Vice-President who stuck with B.C. United as a candidate until it folded and then continued to donate for at least four months, even after the B.C. Conservatives became the official opposition.

Elliott’s decision to run for the B.C. Conservatives conflicts with several of her past B.C. Liberal positions. 

Unlike many B.C. Conservatives, Elliott has backed public education on sexual orientation and gender identity. When Falcon declared “I’m proud that the government introduced that program called SOGI” and called out B.C. Conservatives and anti-SOGI activists for “getting a crowd whipped up,” Elliott endorsed his views: “Amidst increasing polarization & little room for nuance, this response by B.C. United’s Kevin Falcon reflects the reasonable views of parents I talk to every day.”

Elliott has also endorsed a supervised safe supply of drugs: “There is a role for safe supply. It can stabilize folks,” she told CBC in March 2024. “It can help manage their cravings, help them transition to treatment, and help them ultimately get well. That’s a wonderful thing.”

Earlier today, Minister Spencer Chandra Herbert called on all leadership candidates to reject bringing residential school deniers Dallas Brodie, Tara Armstrong, and Lindsay Shepherd back into their party. 

Stephanie Higginson, B.C. NDP MLA for Ladysmith-Oceanside:

“While it’s encouraging to see someone who supports safer supply and education on sexual orientation and gender identity enter the race, it’s disappointing that she’s running to lead a caucus that often opposes those measures. Her long-time support for the B.C. Liberals and Kevin Falcon show that she would double down on their failed approach. During a time when British Columbians are struggling to make ends meet, using B.C. Liberal tactics to balance the budget like closing schools and hospitals across the province while providing tax breaks for the wealthiest and cutting core services is a failed experiment that we are still paying for today. British Columbians can’t afford to go back to those costly B.C. Liberal policies.”

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Elliott campaigns with Falcon. Source.