The British Columbia Party is a right-wing political party

Political party

A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...

 in the Canadian

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 province

Provinces and territories of Canada

The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...

 of British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, founded in 1998 as a populist

Populism

Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...

 party by John Motiuk, a North Vancouver lawyer.

The party did not nominate candidates in the 2001 provincial election. It nominated two candidates for the 2005 provincial election

British Columbia general election, 2005

The 38th British Columbia general election was held on May 17, 2005, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia , Canada. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell...

: David Andrew Wright, who won 185 votes (0.86% of the total) in Delta North, and Jack Kortmeyer, who won 169 votes (1.39% of the total) in Bulkley Valley-Stikine. It did not nominate candidates in the 2009 provincial election.

The party was one of five whose members merged to form the British Columbia Unity Party

British Columbia Unity Party

The British Columbia Unity Party was a political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party was founded as an attempted union of five conservative parties: the Reform Party of British Columbia, the British Columbia Social Credit Party, the British Columbia Conservative Party, the British Columbia...

, but like all but one of the others, the party later left BC Unity.

As of March 2010, it is still registered as a party by Elections BC.

Leadership

The party was led by former Social Credit

British Columbia Social Credit Party

The British Columbia Social Credit Party, whose members are known as Socreds, was the governing political party of British Columbia, Canada, for more than 30 years between the 1952 provincial election and the 1991 election...

 leader Eric Buckley. Buckley was ousted by the party's board of directors, and replaced by former Reform Party of BC Leader Wilf Hanni

Wilf Hanni

Wilf Hanni is a politician and oil industry consultant in British Columbia, Canada. Hanni served as leader of the Reform Party of British Columbia from August 30, 1997 to June 1998, and later as leader of the British Columbia Party...

.

Hanni was subsequently ousted by the board and replaced by Grant Mitton

Grant Mitton (politician)

Grant Mitton is a former radio talk show host on CJDC Radio's open line program and political leader in British Columbia, Canada...

. Mitton, a popular former radio talk show host, had run as a candidate for Social Credit

British Columbia Social Credit Party

The British Columbia Social Credit Party, whose members are known as Socreds, was the governing political party of British Columbia, Canada, for more than 30 years between the 1952 provincial election and the 1991 election...

 in 2001, winning over 17% of the vote in his riding. He left the moribund Socreds to join the British Columbia Party as a "traditional conservative party", hoping to attract support from conservatives

Canadian conservatism

Conservatism in Canada is generally considered to be primarily represented by the Conservative Party of Canada at the federal level, and by various right-wing parties at the provincial level...

, particularly social conservatives dissatisfied with the policies of the ruling British Columbia Liberal Party

British Columbia Liberal Party

The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...

.

Both Mitton and Hanni left the BC Party, and joined the British Columbia Conservative Party

British Columbia Conservative Party

The British Columbia Conservative Party is a political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected as the government in 1903, the party went into decline after 1933...

.

Founding philosophy

The philosophy of the British Columbia Party is rooted in traditional conservatism: the protection and preservation of whatever is beneficial, respect for the individual, economic responsibility, and government which is enabling, not restrictive. Essential components of the philosophy:

1. Honouring the will of the people as the highest authority in a democratic society, obeying the mandate of the majority while respecting the rights and opinions of the minority.
2. Recognition that the individual is the most important element in an organized society, and that government must protect individual citizens’ inalienable rights and remain responsive to their potential and their needs.
3. Responsible management of public affairs by government, to achieve the objectives of the electorate, ensuring that what is physically possible and morally correct is financially viable.
4. Security of person and property.
5. Belief in the supremacy of God and the rule of law as declared in the Constitution of Canada.

Policy and principles

1. While members of the legislature are responsible primarily to their constituents, they must vote in accordance with party principles. In issues not guided by party principles, they must be allowed to vote freely, in accordance with their consciences and the best interests of their constituents.
2. The executive, legislative and judicial branches of government and all their members will be held fully accountable for the execution of their duties and all their activities in the public arena.
3. The government is responsible for protecting the rights and freedoms of all citizens. These include the right to life; freedoms of religion, speech, assembly, association and movement; the right to own private property, and equality before the law.
4. Taxes must be responsible and fair. A balanced budget must be maintained.
5. The private sector is recognized as the most effective and equitable area for job creation and economic stability.
6. A balanced labour/management relationship must be maintained to encourage investment and stimulate job creation.
7. There must be simultaneous and coordinated management of natural resources and protection of the environment to provide maximum sustainable benefit for the citizens of British Columbia.
8. Social security and supporting infrastructure must balance the roles of government, individuals and charities, with services provided efficiently and effectively.
9. An educational system providing the highest standards of academic opportunities must be universally available, with full public funding for the education of every minor and freedom for parents to choose the mode of education most suitable to each child’s individual needs within that system.
10. A comprehensive health care system must be based on accessibility and portability for the user, affordability and accountability for the government. Priority health care disbursements will be given to essential services.