Date: September 20, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
VICTORIA — Kerry-Lynne Findlay has resigned as leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, ending a turbulent period for the provincial opposition party after weeks of internal conflict and a series of departures from its legislative caucus.
Findlay announced her resignation on Sunday, saying the decision was not easy but that she believed it was the right choice for the party and the province. She said she did not want continuing disagreements over her leadership to distract from the work British Columbians expect from a strong opposition.
Her resignation came only hours after Surrey-Serpentine River MLA Linda Hepner announced that she was leaving the Conservative caucus. Hepner's departure was the latest in a series of defections and expulsions that have reshaped the party's presence in the legislature.
According to Canadian Press reporting, Hepner's departure brought to 13 the number of sitting MLAs who had left the Conservative caucus since August. Global News reported that Hepner cited the removal of former Conservative MLAs John Rustad, Trevor Halford and Claire Rattee from caucus on Friday as a major factor in her decision.
Findlay had been leader for fewer than four months. She was elected to the position on May 30, 2026, after previously serving in federal politics as a Conservative member of Parliament and cabinet minister under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
In her resignation statement, Findlay said she had originally intended to spend the early months of her leadership travelling throughout British Columbia, listening to residents and explaining what she believed a united Conservative movement could accomplish.
Instead, she said, too much of the party's time and attention had been consumed by internal disagreements. She said that energy should have been directed toward challenging the governing New Democratic Party.
Findlay also acknowledged that some decisions made during her leadership could have been handled differently. She said she had listened, reflected and accepted responsibility for decisions that were hers to make.
Her resignation followed an increasingly public dispute within the party. Earlier in the week, questions about Findlay's leadership intensified after reports that a private investigator had been hired to examine some of her critics. The controversy contributed to calls within the caucus for changes in party leadership.
Despite the turmoil, Findlay said she would continue as the Conservative candidate in the upcoming Abbotsford-Mission byelection. The vote is scheduled for September 26, and she said she would seek to earn the confidence of voters in the riding.
The Abbotsford-Mission contest therefore takes place only days after the Conservative Party lost its provincial leader. The party's own website continues to identify Findlay as its Abbotsford-Mission candidate and lists the September 26 election date.
Findlay's departure also comes at a politically significant moment in British Columbia. Premier David Eby and the governing NDP have been facing speculation about whether a provincial election could be called earlier than the scheduled 2028 election. Global News reported that Elections BC has already outlined possible election timelines if a snap vote is called in the coming weeks.
The Conservatives' internal changes have also led to the emergence of another political group in the legislature. Former Conservative MLAs, including Peter Milobar, have joined CentreBC, with Milobar taking leadership of that party. CentreBC now has eight MLAs, according to Global News, making it the third-largest group in the legislature.
Milobar and other former Conservative legislators had previously discussed creating a new political party after leaving the Conservatives. They subsequently joined CentreBC alongside Eleanor Sturko, who had also previously been removed from the Conservative caucus.
Findlay's leadership period was marked by a succession of disagreements over the direction of the Conservative caucus. Several departing MLAs cited concerns about party leadership, while the party's leadership took disciplinary action against some members.
In her resignation statement, Findlay also addressed personal attacks that had emerged during the dispute. She said attacks involving people's character and families, as well as threats directed toward them, crossed a line. She argued that political disagreement should not become personal destruction.
The Conservative Party must now determine its next leadership arrangements while also dealing with the immediate electoral contest in Abbotsford-Mission. Findlay's resignation statement said the party needed a reset.
The resignation represents another major development in a period of rapid change for British Columbia's opposition politics. With multiple MLAs having left the Conservative caucus, the creation of a separate CentreBC group and continued speculation about a possible early provincial election, the provincial political landscape has become increasingly fragmented.
For now, Findlay remains a Conservative candidate in Abbotsford-Mission, while the party begins the process of determining who will lead it following her resignation. The next steps will become clearer as the party responds to the leadership vacancy and prepares for the September 26 byelection.