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Linda Hepner, MLA for Surrey-Serpentine River, resigned from the BC Conservative caucus on Sunday, citing leadership's unwillingness to listen to experienced voices within the party as a key reason. Her departure comes just two days after three other MLAs were removed from the caucus and brings the total number of MLAs leaving the party either voluntarily or through ousting to 13, reducing the caucus to 25 members. This development coincides with speculation that Premier David Eby might call a snap election as soon as this week, which could further complicate the political landscape for the BC Conservatives given the emergence of CentreBC as a potential new rival party focusing on crime and safety, healthcare, and the economy.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Linda Hepner, a B.C. Conservative MLA for Surrey-Serpentine River and former mayor of Surrey, has left the party's caucus "effective immediately." This marks her as the 14th MLA to leave since Kerry-Lynne Findlay became leader in February. In her resignation letter to Findlay, Hepner cited a loss of confidence due to the leadership's unwillingness to listen and consider different perspectives. She specifically criticized the recent removal of three MLAs—Trevor Halford, Claire Rattee, and John Rustad—from the party ranks, arguing that these moves undermine experienced voices within the caucus. With 24 remaining MLAs, the Conservative Party has seen significant attrition amid growing calls for Findlay to resign, potentially complicating the political landscape in British Columbia as a provincial election looms.
Written for “BC Conservative Leadership Crisis” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Barely two days after three party members were removed from caucus, BC Conservatives Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay has lost another member.
asserted
Findlay → remove → member
Linda Hepner, MLA for Surrey-Serpentine River, resigned from caucus Sunday and criticized the party leadership’s “willingness to listen.”
In her resignation letter to Findlay, obtained by Global News, Hepner also cited the removal of Trevor Halford, Claire Rattee and John Rustad on Friday as a reason behind her decision to leave caucus.
asserted
Hepner → resign → caucus
“To me, it is beyond the pale of common sense to remove experienced voices rather than find a way to listen to them,” Hepner wrote.
asserted
Hepner → remove → them
She went on to criticize the moves by party leadership, questioning why the three MLAs were removed from the party even as it is asking grassroots Conservatives to “rally behind the party.”
asserted
it → go → party
Rustad led the party in the last provincial election where, while the NDP still achieved a slim majority, the party saw its best result with 44 seats – an increase from the eight they held at dissolution.
asserted
they → lead → dissolution
Rustad was ousted last year when the caucus voted to replace him as leader with Halford.
asserted
caucus → oust → Halford
Rustad resigned as party leader in December but remained in caucus until last week when the Office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly confirmed he and Halford were no longer members.
asserted
he → resign → Assembly
“The math simply does not add up,” Hepner wrote.
asserted
Hepner → add → ?
“Grassroots members should be listened to, not simply appealed to.”
The MLA also remarked on allegations Thursday that a former director of the party hired a private investigator to look into 14 people, including party members and a Victoria-based journalist.
Hepner is the 13th MLA to leave the party either voluntarily or after being ousted by the party leadership.
asserted
Hepner → listen → leadership
Hepner’s departure reduces the party caucus to 25 and comes as talk ramps up that Premier David Eby may call a snap election as soon as this week.
uncertain
Eby → reduce → week
Findlay may also have to contend with another party if an election is called, after former caucus member Peter Milobar became the new leader of the CentreBC party.
uncertain
Milobar → have → party
Milobar and several of the MLAs who had also left the party in recent weeks had spoken about creating a new party, but decided instead to join CentreBC along with Eleanor Sturko, who was ejected from the Conservative caucus last year.
asserted
who → leave → caucus
Milobar says its focus is around crime and safety in B.C. streets, health care, and the economy.
asserted
focus → say → streets
A date has not yet been announced, but a recent flurry of funding announcements by the provincial government have signalled the possibility an election could be on the horizon even as municipal election campaigns have begun to kick off.
uncertain
campaigns → announce → horizon
Elections BC also recently put out a document outlining dates of advance voting and election day if a vote were to be called in the coming weeks.
asserted
vote → put → weeks
It says that if an election is called by this Tuesday, British Columbians would head to the polls Oct. 24, while an election called between Sept. 23 to 29 would result in election day to take place on Halloween.
asserted
day → say → Halloween
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