Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-18 · by Wolfgang Depner The Canadian Press
Story summary
Kerry-Lynne Findlay, leader of the British Columbia Conservative Party, vowed on Thursday at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention in Vancouver that she would not resign despite recent turmoil within her party. Nine legislators quit the caucus since August 14, citing dissatisfaction with Findlay's leadership. Addressing the possibility of an early election called by Premier David Eby, Findlay said it was a "cynical move," adding that any former members who wish to return must act promptly.
The party faced another scandal when it emerged that its former executive director Elaine Allan had hired a private investigator to look into critics within the caucus. Legislators like Claire Rattée and Brennan Day claimed they were targets of this investigation, further damaging Findlay's credibility and leadership. Rattée expressed deep concern over potential privacy violations.
Findlay defended her position by emphasizing that she is committed to leading the party towards change and has the support of 27,000 members who voted for her as leader in May. She plans to campaign for a seat in the Abbotsford-Mission by-election, scheduled for September 26.
Written for “BC Conservative Leadership Crisis” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
British Columbia Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay said Thursday she was “not going anywhere” on another day of tumult for the Opposition, roiled by revelations that a private eye had been hired to look into her critics and calls for her to resign at an overnight caucus meeting.
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her → say → meeting
Lawyer Bruce Hallsor, a King’s counsel, said the party’s former executive director Elaine Allan had hired the investigator, although Hallsor would not name him or those he investigated.
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he → say → him
Allan, who served briefly as executive director of the party until being relieved of her duties last month, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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who → serve → comment
But legislators critical of Findlay, including current caucus member Claire Rattée and Brennan Day, who recently quit the party, said they were targeted by the private eye.
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they → include → eye
“I am deeply troubled by these allegations,” said Rattée, who issued a 1,000-word critique of Findlay’s leadership this week.
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who → trouble → leadership
She said on social media that the private investigator may have violated her privacy.
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investigator → say → privacy
Day said in a text message that being among the MLAs targeted for investigation “only reinforces why I chose to part company with the Kerry-Lynne Findlay Conservatives.”
“It is impossible to point your guns outward at the government when you’re too busy pointing them inward at your own caucus,” he said.
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he → say → caucus
Findlay had earlier acknowledged a lawyer’s investigation into the claims about the private eye, while denying knowledge of the activities and vowing not to stand aside amid speculation that an early election call by Premier David Eby is imminent.
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call → acknowledge → Eby
Nine legislators have quit the official Opposition caucus since Findlay took over in May, with defectors complaining about her leadership, the party’s direction, and an ideological push that one of them said was a “hard right.”
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one → quit → them
The Canadian Press confirmed from sources that two Conservative legislators asked Findlay to resign during a caucus meeting on Wednesday night.
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legislators → confirm → night
The next morning, Findlay told the audience at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention in Vancouver that those who have quit the caucus are welcome to have a conversation about coming back, but “it has to happen now,” because Eby could call an election “as early as tomorrow.”
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Eby → tell → tomorrow
“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.
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she → vote → change
Findlay’s speech before about 100 political leaders drew sparse applause, except from some of her caucus members sitting in the front row.
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speech → draw → row
She called the prospect of a snap election being called by Eby a “cynical move.”
“So, the premier will impose on British Columbians a costly election two years early, trample on the byelection he just called, and he knows I was about to win,” she said.
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she → call → byelection
Findlay is campaigning in the Abbotsford-Mission byelection, scheduled for Sept. 26, in a bid to gain a seat in the B.C. legislature.
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Findlay → campaign → legislature
She addressed reporters after the speech, saying the Conservatives were a “young party” that was still feeling “growing pains.”
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that → address → pains
She said her team was excited about “probably heading into a provincial election very soon.”
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team → say → election
Findlay, who was flanked by legislators from her 28-member caucus, said after her speech that she was open to talking to anyone who wants to rejoin the party, and she had been speaking to a number of former caucus members.
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she → flank → members
She said she didn’t think it was her leadership style that forced the members of her caucus to quit, but she took responsibility for the defections.
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she → say → defections
“There have been adjustments, there have been changes, and what is really more important is, do we have a working, fighting team that’s cohesive?
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that → have → team
I’m proud of them all, and we are moving forward together.”
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we → ’m → them
Eby, who is due to address the convention on Friday, said Wednesday that he told NDP legislators they need to be “election ready,” amid disruption posed by the trade war with the United States.
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they → address → States
He did not offer any details about its timing.
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He → offer → timing
The Conservatives responded Thursday by launching an “emergency” fundraising drive.
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Conservatives → respond → drive
The party sent out an email launching the effort, saying it wanted funds in the next 48 hours to roll out digital and print advertisements, to distribute voter messaging and to mobilize volunteers.
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it → send → volunteers
A provincial vote could overlap with next month’s municipal elections, sparking a rebuke from the association representing municipalities.
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vote → overlap → municipalities
Cori Ramsay, president of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, said in a statement that it was incumbent on provincial leaders to uphold the principle of separate periods for local and provincial elections to avoid distractions for voters.
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it → say → voters
“At a time when B.C. is facing considerable economic and social uncertainty, overlapping elections would be a disservice to our citizens,” she said.
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she → face → citizens
“One hopes that provincial parties would temper election rhetoric as local campaigns are set to begin, but the spiral of speculation continues.”
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spiral → hop → speculation
The formal campaign period for municipal elections starts Sept. 19 with a general vote on Oct. 17.
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period → start → Oct.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2026.
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report → publish → Press
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