B.C. Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigns amid party turmoil, vows to stay on as byelection candidate

Kerry-Lynne Findlay has resigned as leader of British Columbia's Conservative Party following months of internal turmoil that saw numerous defections and public infighting. The former federal cabinet minister announced her decision on Sunday, though she pledged to remain as the party's candidate in the September 26 byelection for Abbotsford-Mission.

A short-lived leadership

Findlay's tenure lasted fewer than four months, a period marked by escalating tensions within the official Opposition caucus. Her resignation came just hours after MLA Linda Hepner became the 13th sitting legislator to leave the Conservative caucus since August. Hepner cited dissatisfaction with the party's direction under Findlay's leadership.

The former leader acknowledged the challenges in a statement posted to social media, saying stepping down was not an easy decision but believed it was "the right one for our movement and our province." Findlay had told the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention just days earlier that she was "not going anywhere," making her sudden resignation particularly striking.

Internal strife and defections

The Conservative Party has been roiled by controversy in recent weeks, including revelations that a private investigator had been hired to look into Findlay's critics. The situation reached a boiling point when former leader John Rustad, along with two other MLAs, were expelled from the caucus on Friday.

Hepner, the MLA for Surrey-Serpentine River, said in a statement that her decision to leave was prompted by the expulsion of Rustad and others. She expressed having "lost confidence" in the leadership's "willingness to listen ... and to consider perspectives beyond its immediate circle." Hepner praised Rustad for building the party from a single elected member after his ouster from the BC Liberals.

Leadership challenges acknowledged

Findlay admitted in her resignation statement that too much time and attention had been consumed by "fighting amongst ourselves" when that energy should have been focused on challenging the governing NDP. She took responsibility for decisions that contributed to the party's troubles, stating: "I have made decisions I would make differently with the benefit of hindsight."

The former leader also addressed what she described as unacceptable personal attacks, saying that disagreement should never "become personal destruction." She condemned attacks on someone's character and family, and threats directed toward them, as crossing a line that should concern everyone regardless of politics.

Implications for BC politics

The resignation comes amid speculation that Premier David Eby might call a snap election as the Conservatives continue to shed caucus members. MLA Claire Rattée, one of those expelled on Friday, warned Eby not to mistake "the growing pains of our movement" for weakness, pledging to run in the next election under the Conservative banner.

Eby, when asked about the possibility of an early vote on Friday, replied "we haven't made any decisions yet." However, he added that it wasn't "ever wrong to ask British Columbians about which direction we should go." The NDP had yet to comment on Findlay's resignation as of Sunday.

Shifting political landscape

The defections have significantly altered BC's political landscape. CentreBC, formed in March 2025 without any sitting MLAs, became the new home for eight former Conservatives on Friday, including former Opposition finance critic Peter Milobar, who became its leader. The party is now poised to become the third-largest in the legislature when it resumes next month.

Milobar said CentreBC planned to run candidates in all 93 ridings in case of an early election. The party issued a statement following Findlay's resignation, promising to put forward "a serious, stable option" to defeat the NDP government. Notably, Hepner did not join CentreBC, unlike many of her former colleagues.

Why it matters

Findlay's brief and tumultuous leadership underscores the challenges of uniting BC's conservative factions at a critical political moment. Her resignation leaves the party in disarray just as the NDP government appears to be considering an early election call. The rapid rise of CentreBC as an alternative for disaffected conservatives could further fragment the opposition vote, potentially strengthening the NDP's position.

The coming weeks will test whether the Conservatives can regroup under new leadership or whether CentreBC will emerge as the primary challenger to the NDP. With a potential byelection and possible general election looming, BC's political landscape is undergoing its most significant reshuffling in years, with consequences that could reshape provincial politics for the foreseeable future.