B.C. Conservatives leadership resignation draws mixed reactions from MLAs and political figures

The Story

Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s resignation as leader of the B.C. Conservatives on Sunday has prompted comments from people inside and around the party, with responses ranging from calls for unity to criticisms of how leadership and caucus disputes unfolded. The resignation ended a period marked by firings, expulsions from the Conservative caucus, and defections by sitting legislators.

Findlay, in her resignation statement, argued that energy that could have been used to focus on challenging the governing NDP instead went toward internal conflict. She also suggested that while public life involves criticism, threats and personal attacks cross a line that should concern people regardless of party affiliation, according to the available reporting.

Among the reactions was a statement attributed to John Rustad, who had previously led the B.C. Conservatives. Rustad, identified as a former Conservative leader and MLA for Nechako Lakes, said the interim leadership should be someone able to bring the party together and communicate a vision for a prosperous B.C. that addresses issues he linked to the NDP.

Rustad’s comments were also framed around the idea that voters are seeking change and that the Conservatives need a unifying figure ahead of any political contest. The reporting notes he also suggested the next interim leader would not necessarily need to be a sitting legislator.

Independent MLA Claire Rattée, who represents Skeena and said she was among legislators expelled from the Conservative caucus under Findlay on Friday, focused her remarks on giving MLAs an opportunity to come together. She said the leadership change creates a chance to set a clear direction and build a credible alternative government-in-waiting aimed at defeating Premier David Eby.

Rattée said that the conservative movement includes people with different viewpoints, and she argued that excluding any part of the movement would undermine the effort to defeat the NDP. Her comments emphasized bringing past conflicts behind and operating under a single principle tied to unseating the governing party.

Other party figures adopted a more cautious tone about whether the Conservative organization can translate renewed leadership into electoral results. Sheldon Clare, the Conservative MLA for Prince George and Opposition house leader, argued in a statement that the leadership change offers a way to regroup and move toward a united plan.

Clare suggested, in messaging relayed to Canadian Press, that when the party was elected it came with momentum but that some members pursued faster internal change or acted in ways that served their own interests. At the same time, he said the Conservatives remain strong and well-positioned to defeat the NDP.

Sheldon Clare’s messaging also indicated that leadership and caucus dynamics had affected the party’s ability to make immediate progress on its priorities. The availability of his comments adds context to the extent to which the resignations and expulsions are being interpreted as part of a broader struggle over direction.

Another Conservative MLA, Gavin Dew of Kelowna-Mission, said in text that Findlay won leadership with support from grassroots Conservative members and that the party owes those supporters a serious effort to defeat David Eby. Dew also criticized the possibility of a snap election as motivated by personal advantage rather than public interest, according to the reporting.

Dew’s remarks, as presented in the available material, also asserted that if Premier Eby calls a snap election, Conservatives would work to undo the damage he linked to the NDP and restore hope for voters. Those comments align with the party’s framing of the governing party as responsible for problems the Conservatives say it can solve.

Some reactions were more pointed and critical of the leadership period itself. Dallas Brodie, an Independent MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena, said he was thrown out of the Conservative caucus in 2025 over remarks made at the time by then-leader John Rustad involving residential school survivors.

Brodie characterized Findlay’s resignation period as reflecting an atmosphere where members were determined to force her out regardless of her efforts. In the available reporting, he described her as having been targeted severely from early on, and he suggested her leadership was undermined through what he called a savage and vindictive attack.

Brodie also framed his view of OneBC, a movement he said is led by grassroots supporters and described as a home for people frustrated with what he called corrupt political games. His comments were included alongside the broader reaction to Findlay’s resignation, illustrating how disagreements with the Conservative movement are spilling into other political alignments in the legislature.

Overall, the comments provide a snapshot of the party’s internal and external challenges at a moment when leadership has changed quickly. The resignation also intersects with a near-term electoral test in Abbotsford-Mission on Sept. 26, where Findlay said she will remain the Conservatives’ candidate while seeking a seat in the legislature.

For Vancouver and the wider province, the practical significance is twofold: the Conservatives are attempting to reset after caucus instability, and they are also working to present a credible alternative to the NDP at a time when an early election has been discussed. The variety of reactions from current and former political figures suggests the next phase will depend not only on who leads, but whether the party can unify its factions around a consistent approach.