Fringe views have rarely been more emphatically or routinely expressed in the B.C. legislature than they have in the current sitting.

Much of the parliamentary process works toward moderating differences, but a combination of circumstances has created a window where a small handful of MLAs are pushing into extreme territory, past usual conventions.

Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie is leading the charge. She was booted out of the Conservative Party of B.C. caucus last spring by Opposition Leader John Rustad for belittling people’s residential school experiences.

That was part of a caucus implosion that saw two other Conservatives — Jordan Kealy and Tara Armstrong quit the party to protest Brodie’s treatment. Armstrong and Brodie then formed a new party — OneBC — in June.

When the legislature resumed sitting in early October, they enjoyed the benefits of a rule change the NDP made seven years ago. They dropped the standard for getting party status from four seats to two, to get the Green support needed to unseat Christy Clark’s B.C. Liberal government.

That makes for increased funding and entitlement to take part in question period every day. Brodie........

© Times Colonist