Seven MLAs who left the CentreBC caucus are rejoining the B.C. Conservatives after Premier David Eby called a snap provincial election for Oct. 24.
The Story
Seven legislators from the breakaway CentreBC party are returning to the official Opposition B.C. Conservatives following Premier David Eby’s call for an early vote set for Oct. 24.
The change follows Eby’s decision to drop the writ for a snap provincial election on Tuesday, with the premier citing the threat posed to workers by U.S. President Donald Trump as a central reason for calling the election.
CentreBC’s outgoing and incoming caucus moves underscore the instability inside the Opposition as it tries to present a united front heading into the campaign. The Conservatives framed the election as an opportunity to replace the governing party, while also arguing that the snap call was not aligned with what British Columbians want.
Eleanor Sturko said she is the sole CentreBC member who is not rejoining the Conservatives. Sturko previously was ejected from the Conservatives last year by then-Conservative leader John Rustad, and she said she cannot return to a party that, in her view, previously supported repealing the human rights code.
Conservative leadership changes also sit behind the reshuffling. The Conservatives said interim leader Lorne Doerkson and CentreBC’s leader Peter Milobar “have come together” to present what they described as a viable alternative for voters.
The seven MLAs returning to the Conservative fold had either resigned from, or been removed from, the main Opposition caucus under former leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay, who quit as Conservative leader on Sunday.
← More stories