Cummins confirms bid for B.C. Conservative leadership

Former federal Conservative MP John Cummins confirmed he is running for the leadership of the B.C. Conservative Party with a speech on Tuesday morning that attacked both the B.C. NDP and the B.C. Liberals.

"The choice between the Liberals and the NDP is like the choice between airline food and hospital," said the 18-year veteran MP who just retired as the member for Delta-Richmond East.

"If you look at the last election, 48 percent of British Columbians did not bother to turn up to vote," he said.

"Of those, the people that voted Liberal, I've talked to countless numbers of people who tell me that I held my nose and voted Liberal. I talked to conservative-minded people who voted NDP and I'm one of them," he said.

Concerns about vote split

The reaction to John Cummins announcement has been sharply divided, with manypolitical observers say the presence of another right-wing party can only hurt the governingLiberals.

B.C. Liberal Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom said Cummins should have considered the impact of his move.

"What does surprise me is, for a gentleman that's probably got the experience he has, is to recognize that this is going to have an impact on the right of centre vote, which really is going to play into the hands of the NDP, I would think," said Lekstrom.

NDP leadership candidate John Horgan agreed, saying it's a good day to be a New Democrat.

"I think when you look back at the history of B.C. electoral politics, whenever there are two or more views on one side of the line, usually the other side of the line is successful, and I'm looking forward to the next election regardless of what the configuration is," said Horgan.

The NDP has won three provincial elections in BC: in 1972, 1991 and 1996. In every case, the New Democrats faced a divided opposition.

But Cummins, 69, does not buy the argument and said he doesn't think his party will divide the right-wing vote.

"People in this province are looking for a choice. I think the turnout in the last election makes that very clear. If there is vote splitting in the next election, it will be the Liberals that will be splitting the vote, not the B.C. Conservatives."

Signs of resurgence

Cummins was originally elected as a federalMP forthe now-defunct Reform party, and was long considered a maverick within the federal Conservatives after the two parties merged.

Analysts say having a high profile federal politician bid for the leadership of the B.C. Conservative Party will give credibility to the fringe party that once ruled B.C.

The B.C. Conservatives haven't elected a member since 1975, and no longer has any official links with the federal Conservative Party. Butit hashas seen some growth in support in recent years.

It fielded 24 candidates among the province's 85 ridings in the 2009 election, garnering more than 20 per cent of the vote in Boundary-Similkameen and more than 10 per cent in a number of other constituencies.

But after a disappointing failure to capture any seats, the party is setto elect a leader on May 28.

Facebook site launched Monday

CBC News spoke to Cummins on Monday after his campaign Facebook site was launched before his official announcement.

"I think people in British Columbia want a real choice," he said.

"They want a choice that can establish a vision for the province in the future and I think the public is actually tired of the choices that are there."

He said voters are look for a chance to vote in favour of somebody, not just against the NDP.

"I think the future for the B.C. Conservative party is quite bright," said Cummins.

But Cummins also took a shot at the ruling party, saying he doesn't like the way he sees the Liberals operating.

"What I see in the Liberal party of British Columbia is a party that takes its lead from its corporate donors."

He said he would ban all political donations from corporations and unions.