MLA Doerkson Appointed BC Conservative Interim Leader, Rustad and Other MLAs Invited Back to Party

The Conservative Party of BC has appointed MLA Lorne Doerkson as interim leader following the resignation of Kerry-Lynne Findlay.

Meanwhile, former leader John Rustad, former interim leader Trevor Halford, and some other MLAs who had left the party were invited to rejoin the caucus.

The party announced Doerkson’s appointment in a statement a few hours after Findlay stepped down from her position as leader on Sept. 20.

“The Party’s Board of Directors has accepted the recommendation and passed a motion to appoint Lorne Doerkson as Interim Leader,” the party said in the statement. “We thank Lorne for stepping forward to serve during this important transition. Our caucus and Party will now move forward together, focused on providing strong opposition and representing British Columbians across the province.”

Doerkson is prohibited by the Conservative constitution from seeking the party leadership on a permanent basis. The party said it will release more information on the transition in the coming days.

Rustad announced on Sept. 21 that Doerkson had asked him to rejoin the party via text. Rustad told reporters in Victoria that Doerkson is a “quality individual” and said he is happy to have him lead the party into an election if he wants to. 

Rustad, who resigned as leader in December 2025 amid a caucus revolt, was removed from the Conservative caucus last week along with ex-interim leader Trevor Halford, and Skeena MLA Claire Rattée. The party has not publicly detailed the circumstances surrounding the previous expulsions. Rattée has said she was one of at least 10 MLAs who signed a letter urging Findlay to step down.

Also on Sept. 21, the party welcomed back Halford, Rattée, and MLAs Scott McInnis and Lisa Hepner, who had quit the party.

“When I left caucus, it was because I believe the majority of my constituents and other British Columbians did not agree with the direction which the former leader had shifted toward,” McInnis said in a statement.  He said he has “tremendous” respect for Doerkson and is “excited about the direction we will take together and the work ahead of us.”

Findlay, a former federal Conservative MP and Harper government cabinet minister, announced her resignation less than four months after winning the Conservative leadership contest.

“This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right one for our movement and our province,” she said in a statement.

Her resignation comes after an intense period of turmoil within the Conservative caucus, marked by numerous departures and removals.

Interim leader Doerkson is the MLA for the Cariboo-Chilcotin riding in central B.C., and serves as the assistant deputy speaker of the House. He was first elected in 2020 as a member of the B.C. Liberal Party, which was renamed BC United in 2023. Doerkson was re-elected in 2024 before crossing the floor to join the Conservatives.

He was the third MLA to leave BC United to join the B.C. Conservatives, following former party leader Rustad and Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman.

Doerkson could not immediately be reached for comment on his appointment and had not released a statement as of 11 a.m. local time.

Findlay’s departure and Doerkson’s new role emerge as speculation mounts that B.C. Premier David Eby could trigger an early election.

The NDP caucus convened late on Sept. 20 to discuss Findlay’s departure.

Eby said late last week that he had “no announcement about an election,” but the premier has instructed Elections B.C. and his caucus to be “election ready” amid disruptions posed by the ongoing trade dispute with the United States.

A provincial election just two years into the NDP government’s term could overlap with the municipal election campaign, which runs from Sept. 19 to Oct. 17.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.