The BC Liberals say John Martin's defection from the Conservatives signals the beginning of the end for the right-wing split.

The announcement was done by Liberal campaign manager Mike MacDonald and even Deputy Premier Rich Coleman made the trip to Chilliwack.

MacDonald says the timing of the announcement, the day before the Conservatives' annual general meeting,  was no accident.

"It's a convergence of discussions that were happening here locally, but it also puts into sharp focus where things are going with the free enterprise side of things. And the Conservatives who are attending the convention this weekend have something to think about now about whether the path they're on is a path that's going to lead to anything constructive in B.C. politics."

MacDonald says Martin's defection is a decisive step towards uniting the right.

It wasn't long ago that the newest member of the BC Liberal Party was trashing the government.

Last December John Martin said the Liberals had not earned a fourth term.

Later he accused the Liberals of fear-mongering by warning of a vote split--the same vote split he's talking about today.

"The option of an NDP administration is a non-starter, that can't happen. So I was critical of the party, I was a political opponent of Laurie Throness and that was my job to attack the government and to attack its record, and I don't take back my performance in the byelection."  

Martin has also said "the BC Rail scandal alone merits a trip to the penalty box" for the BC Liberals.