the BC conservatives have poached another MLA from the opposition BC United Richmond's Teresa watt has been officially introduced as the conservatives newest member and candidate ahead of the provincial election our legislative reporter Katie do roza joins us with more Katie why did Watts switch parties well Dan today at a press conference next to John Russ said watt says it was a tough decision H she wrestled with for uh for months but she said ultimately the uh the issues in her constituency with crime and drug use had led to a cuse for her to pick a party that was going to beat the NDP and I want to see drugs off the street I want to see you and I can walk safe in the street in the community and I can see that the only party that can defeat NDP is BC conservative now watt is also responding to allegations from BC United that someone from her campaign uh downloaded confidential donor information from the party software watt says uh her team member did nothing wrong and according according to elections BC as a current MLA watt is entitled to a copy of the voters list for outreach purposes uh now watt is the fourth uh BC United MLA to defect to the BC conservatives uh since John rustad became leader um and meanwhile while this comes as a new pull from research Co shows that the BC conservatives are basically neck and neck with the governing NDP uh while BC United is in fourth after the BC greens uh so we talked to uh Kim Falcon today uh BC United leader and asked him his response he insists his party is not collapsing however the party will ask elections BC to put on the ballot formally BC liberals next to the BC United name so a bit of an indication that the party is uh trying to with its name change Dan Katie D Roa in Victoria thanks very much Katie