B.C. Conservative Leader Says She's Staying — What Happens Next?
Kerry-Lynne Findlay says she will stay as leader of the B.C. Conservatives. She told reporters she is "not going anywhere" even though nine MLAs have left her group since she became leader in May, according to The Globe and Mail.
An MLA is an elected representative in the B.C. legislature. Think of a caucus like a team roster — it is the list of MLAs from the same party. Findlay spoke in Vancouver after meeting with local leaders at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention. About a dozen MLAs from her now 28-member team stood with her.
She said former members can talk about coming back. But she added, "it has to happen now."
She is running in a special election to win a seat. Voters in Abbotsford-Mission go to the polls on Sept. 26. A by-election fills one seat between general elections. Findlay said 27,000 party members voted for her as leader.
The party says it needs money fast. It has started an "emergency" fundraising drive. It wants donations in the next 48 hours for online and print ads, messages to voters and volunteers.
On Aug. 27, Findlay said she had directed her chief of staff to fire the director of operations for the B.C. Conservative Caucus, in a post on Facebook. Days later, that chief of staff resigned as more MLAs left, CP24 reported on Sept. 2.
Two more MLAs quit around that time, with concerns about Findlay's leadership cited for their decisions, Global News reported. Earlier, on Aug. 25, Findlay had called those who left "selfish" and said her remaining team is united in its goal of beating the NDP, CBC News reported.
Premier David Eby has told his MLAs to be "election ready" amid disruption from the trade war with the United States.
The broader context here is how the legislature works. The Official Opposition is the largest party outside government. It assigns members to watch ministries, sits on committees and questions ministers each day. A small team makes that work harder. A leader without a seat cannot speak or debate on the floor.
Looking at the next two weeks, there are two deadlines. One is the vote on Sept. 26. A win puts Findlay in the chamber with a direct line to the premier. A loss leaves her claim resting on the May membership vote while the caucus number remains under scrutiny. The other is money and organization. A 48-hour appeal for ads and volunteers points to a party trying to turn its members into campaign help before the vote, even as MLAs continue to reassess their affiliation.
