Two More MLAs Quit BC Conservative Caucus, Bringing Total to Nine in Three Weeks

Boundary-Similkameen MLA Donegal Wilson and Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis have announced their departures from the B.C. Conservative Party to sit as Independents, bringing the number of MLAs to leave the party to nine in the past three weeks.

Wilson said in a statement shared on social media on Sept. 2 that her departure is due to her disagreement with the direction new leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay is taking the party.

“Communication between the leader and her caucus has broken down, and I have watched colleagues I respect be treated in ways that deeply concern me,” she said.

McInnis similarly said in a statement on social media on Sept. 2 that he could no longer support what he described as Findlay’s “direction, judgment and decisions.”

McInnis said he had become concerned since Findlay took over as leader about decisions involving staffing, senior appointments, relations with the caucus and the party’s overall direction. He also cited the firing of what he called “competent and experienced staff,” what he described as “serious ethical questions” involving members of Findlay’s senior team.

The departures bring to nine the number of MLAs who have left the B.C. Conservative caucus since Aug. 14. The others are Áʼa꞉líya Warbus, Bruce Banman, Teresa Wat, Brennan Day, Ian Paton, Rosalyn Bird, and Peter Milobar, who ran against Findlay in the recent leadership race. Paton and Milobar have said they intend to form a new party, while the others have said they will sit as Independents.

On the same day as the latest two resignations, Findlay’s chief of staff Chris Delaney stepped down, saying he didn’t want to distract from Findlay’s campaign to win the Abbotsford-Mission byelection. He is replaced with former B.C. Conservative MLA Reann Gasper, who resigned as an MLA to trigger a byelection and provide Findlay a chance to win a seat in the provincial legislature.

Delaney also criticized “the enemies of BC and the enemies of democracy, like those who have walked away in previous days” for attempting to stop Findlay.

“I stand behind Kerry-Lynne 100%. She is going to win in Abbotsford-Mission and begin the process of taking back our province before it is too late,” Delaney said.

Neither Findlay nor the party had publicly commented on Wilson’s and McInnis’s departures as of Sept. 2.

Findlay said in an Aug. 25 statement that the party would begin accepting nominations to fill recent MLA vacancies and that it was “already attracting strong, capable nominees who share our commitment and love their communities.”

“Recent resignations from our caucus are a matter of public record. Our Party’s path is clear and unwavering: we will deliver hope, opportunity, and lasting prosperity to all British Columbians,” Findlay added.

The byelection in Abbotsford-Mission is set for Sept. 26.