‘I’m Not Going Anywhere’: BC Conservative Leader Findlay Says She’s Staying On

B.C. Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay says she will remain party leader amid the departure of nine MLAs from caucus and criticism of her leadership.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Findlay said Sept. 17 while speaking at the Union of B.C. Municipalities’ annual convention. Her comments came after an emergency caucus meeting on Sept. 16.

“Twenty-seven thousand party members voted for me as a leader who will collaborate with anyone, from any background or political alliances … who share our common-sense vision for change,” she said.

“Any who have left our party are welcome to have a conversation about coming back, but let’s understand that it has to happen now.”

Findlay said convention delegates had been discussing the possibility of B.C. Premier David Eby calling a snap election, which she described as a “cynical move.” She said such an election would impose on British Columbians a “costly” election two years early and “trample on the byelection” in Abbotsford-Mission, where she is seeking a seat.

“That’s OK. We’re ready. We’re ready to go and we have a winning team,” Findlay added.

Eby said on Sept. 16 that he had told his caucus and Elections BC to be “election ready,” citing the disruption caused by the trade tensions with the United States. He also said Cheryl Oates, his former acting chief of staff, would manage the party’s campaign for the next election, whenever it is called.

The premier also told reporters that he’s informed Elections BC and the NDP caucus that they need to be prepared for an election, although he didn’t have any announcement on the timing of a vote.

Findlay’s latest comments come as nine B.C. Conservative MLAs have resigned from the caucus since she took over in May, with defectors citing concerns about Findlay’s leadership and the party’s direction.

One of the latest criticisms came from Skeena MLA Claire Rattée, who wrote on Substack on Sept. 16 that the party was “unified” when Findlay took over and was now “deeply divided.”

Rattée said Findlay was expected to bring the caucus together after winning the leadership but had not done so.

Rattée called on Findlay to engage with caucus members, attend meetings, seek more help and address what she called “poor choices” so the party can rebuild trust and unite.

“Many of the issues that we presently face as a team are fixable, only if she will admit that they are problems and work with us to construct a plan to address them,” Rattée wrote. “Stop the bleeding and start winning.”

Rattée said she will remain an MLA with the B.C. Conservative Party.

Commenting in support of Findlay, B.C. Conservative MLA Anna Kindy said Findlay has a “true vision and plan on how to get there.”

“[Findlay] is a natural leader. A big part of being a good leader is also listening to the ‘front lines’ and shifting when you have to. It’s not about pandering to egos,” she said on social media. “Like [Findlay], we need to put British Columbiams first.”

During her UBCM speech, Findlay said the province needs to focus on good governance and “doing the basics well,” including community safety, property protection, roads and infrastructure, health care and education.

“These are not radical ideas. As a party, we in the B.C. Conservatives believe in these fundamentals,” she said.

“Give local governments the certainty to plan, give people confidence that what they own is secure, and get government out of the way when it’s standing between British Columbians and the lives they’re trying to build.”

Findlay is campaigning in the Abbotsford-Mission byelection, scheduled for Sept. 26, in a bid to gain a seat in the B.C. legislature.

With files from the Canadian Press.