Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned as leader of British Columbia’s Conservative Party on Sunday after facing internal conflicts. In her resignation statement, she cited character attacks and threats against herself and others as reasons for stepping down. Various legislators, including former leader John Rustad, MLA Claire Rattée, and MLAs Sheldon Clare and Gavin Dew, expressed hopes that the party can unite under new leadership to challenge the NDP government effectively.
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
Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned as leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia on Sunday, effective immediately, citing internal conflict that had consumed too much time and energy. Since taking over in May, 14 MLAs have either quit or been expelled from the party, including Linda Hepner who left just hours before Findlay’s resignation announcement. The turmoil comes amid speculation that Premier David Eby may call a snap election as early as this week. In her resignation letter, Findlay acknowledged mistakes and said stepping aside was necessary to avoid further distraction from the work needed for strong opposition against the NDP. Lorne Doerkson was appointed interim leader hours after Findlay’s announcement.
Written for “Kerry-Lynne Findlay Resigns” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 12 other(s) covering the same event.
Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned as the leader of British Columbia’s Conservatives on Sunday, bringing to a close her brief tenure marked by infighting, firings, expulsions from the party caucus and a string of defections by sitting legislators.
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Findlay → resign → legislators
Findlay said she would remain the party’s candidate in the Sept. 26 byelection in Abbotsford-Mission as she aims to secure a seat on the legislature.
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she → say → legislature
Here is what Findlay and some legislators are saying about the move:
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Findlay → say → move
“Energy that should have been directed toward challenging the NDP, advancing our principles, and preparing to form government has instead been spent infighting amongst ourselves,” Findlay said in her resignation statement.
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Findlay → direct → statement
“Public life requires a thick skin.
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life → require → skin
I have spent much of my career in positions of public trust, and I understand that criticism comes with the territory.
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criticism → spend → territory
But attacks on someone’s character and family, and threats directed toward them, cross a line that should concern all of us, regardless of our politics.”
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John Rustad, former Conservative leader and MLA for Nechako Lakes, who said the next interim Conservative leader wouldn’t have to be a sitting legislator
“It just has to be somebody who can pull this party together ... and who can show the province a vision for a prosperous British Columbia, a vision for how we can address the serious issues that the NDP has thrust upon the people in this province.
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NDP → direct → province
People want change.
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People → want → change
We are going to deliver that for them,” Rustad told reporters.
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Rustad → go → reporters
Claire Rattée, Independent MLA for Skeena, who was among three legislators ejected from the Conservative caucus under Findlay on Friday
”(Sunday’s) leadership change gives our MLAs the opportunity to come together, chart a clear path forward and a build a unified, credible government-in-waiting capable of defeating (Premier) David Eby,” Rattée said in a statement.
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Rattée → eject → statement
“No part of the conservative movement can be excluded from this work.
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part → exclude → work
Our movement includes people with a wide range of views who have supported different leaders.
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who → include → leaders
We must now put the past behind us and operate according to one simple principle: if you want to defeat David Eby and build a better British Columbia, you are welcome on this team.”
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you → put → team
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Sheldon Clare, Conservative MLA for Prince George and Opposition house leader
“I believe that when we were elected we came with enthusiasm, passion, energy, and impatience to fix things.
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we → believe → things
When that ability to effect change wasn’t available, some individuals sought to accelerate change and others to work to support their own interests,” Clare said in a text message to the Canadian Press.
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Clare → effect → Press
We are the best poised means of defeating the NDP and forming a responsible government.”
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We → poise → government
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Gavin Dew, Conservative MLA for Kelowna-Mission
”(Findlay) won the leadership with the support of grassroots conservative members, and we owe it to them to do everything in our power to defeat David Eby
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we → win → Eby
,” Dew said in a text message to The Canadian Press.
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Dew → say → Press
“If he calls a cynical snap election he’s doing it for himself, not for British Columbians.
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he → call → Columbians
We will defeat him, undo the damage he has done, and restore hope.”
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Dallas Brodie, Independent MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena, who was thrown out of the Conservative caucus in 2025 over remarks then-leader John Rustad said mocked residential school survivors
”(Findlay) tried her best to save the party but the knives were out from the very beginning.
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knives → defeat → beginning
She was the ‘wrong winner’ and was taken down in a most savage and vindictive attack,” said Brodie, who sits as an Independent while serving as interim leader of OneBC, which lacks official party status in the legislature.
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which → take → legislature
“OneBC is the home of the grassroots movement that is sick to death of the corrupt games of those driving B.C. into the ground.”
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that → drive → ground
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 20, 2026.
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report → publish → Press
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