B.C. Conservatives rally behind new leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay, but unity questions linger
Kerry-Lynne Findlay made her first public appearance as B.C. Conservative leader Sunday, flanked by caucus members projecting a united front — less than 24 hours after a divisive leadership race that exposed deep ideological rifts within the party.
Findlay, a lawyer and former federal Conservative MP, won the leadership on the fourth ballot Saturday with 51 per cent of the vote. She takes over from interim leader Trevor Halford, who had held the position since December when John Rustad resigned.
A bruising race leaves questions about cohesion
The three-month leadership campaign was marked by personal attacks and ideological splits. Findlay drew sharp criticism — including from former Conservative MPs who served alongside her in Stephen Harper’s cabinet — after she questioned whether rival candidate Peter Milobar faced a conflict of interest on reconciliation issues because his wife is Indigenous.
Milobar, once considered a frontrunner, was the first candidate eliminated on Saturday’s opening ballot. Despite the friction, he said Sunday he is “not going anywhere” and that caucus can coalesce around Findlay. The two say they have been in contact since the vote.
When Findlay was asked about unifying the caucus at a Sunday meeting in downtown Vancouver, the MLAs standing behind her responded with applause and shouts of approval.
Expelled and departed MLAs await decision
One of Findlay’s most consequential early decisions will be whether to invite back the six MLAs who were either expelled from or left the Conservative caucus. Findlay said she will not act unilaterally and plans to consult the full caucus before making any moves.
Two sitting Independent MLAs — Jordan Kealy (Peace River North) and Tara Armstrong (Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream), who departed caucus in March 2025 in solidarity with OneBC Leader Dallas Brodie — endorsed Findlay during the leadership race.
Findlay also took a veiled shot at fellow leadership candidate Yuri Fulmer, criticizing his non-compete agreement with Brodie designed to avoid splitting the right-of-centre vote in a future general election.
Rivals on the centre-right see opportunity
Not everyone is convinced Findlay can broaden the party’s appeal. Karin Kirkpatrick, a former MLA who founded Centre B.C. following the collapse of B.C. United under Kevin Falcon, said Findlay’s election is “very, very bad for the Conservative party and very good for a party like Centre B.C.”
Kirkpatrick predicted that many British Columbians will seek a centrist alternative at the next provincial general election — a concern echoed by other political analysts who worry Findlay’s populist brand could alienate moderate voters.
MLA Eleanor Sturko said she has been copied on several emails from B.C. Conservatives cancelling their memberships. CBC News was unable to reach the B.C. Conservative Party to confirm whether any members have officially withdrawn.
Membership surge raises verification concerns
Party membership grew dramatically during the leadership race, climbing to 40,000 from roughly 7,000 under Rustad. However, only 26,000 of those new members had their identities verified through the party’s online fraud-prevention mechanism.
Findlay, for her part, struck an optimistic tone on her ability to win over a broader electorate. Quoting former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, she said: “First you win the argument, then you win the vote.”
“We’re talking about prosperity, we’re talking about hope, bringing affordability back to British Columbia,” Findlay said. “That is a message that will resonate with all British Columbians.”
