B.C. Conservatives Lose 10th MLA Amid Turmoil
B.C. Conservatives Lose 10th MLA Amid Turmoil
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Key Points
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The caucus removals included John Rustad and Trevor Halford, with Halford receiving widespread praise for his performance as interim Opposition leader before his expulsion.
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Rattée and Rustad reportedly asked Findlay to resign during a tense caucus meeting on Wednesday evening, where members were told that at least 13 people—including five other MLAs—had been placed under surveillance.
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Findlay rejected calls to step down during a speech at the Union of B.C. Municipalities meeting, declaring, “I’m not going anywhere.”
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Party lawyer Bruce Hallsor said his review of the private-investigator allegations found that former executive director Elaine Allan had hired the investigator; Allan has not responded to requests for comment.
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Following the removals, the legislature’s website listed only 27 MLAs as Conservatives, while Rattée and Rustad’s names were removed from the party’s caucus website.
British Columbia's Conservative Party collapsed further Wednesday when Skeena MLA Claire Rattée left or was removed from caucus, marking the 10th departure since August. CBC reported that at least 10 Conservative MLAs had signed a letter demanding leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay resign, citing poor judgment and a pattern of driving members away that could split the anti-NDP vote. The crisis deepened after CTV News revealed that party figures, including Rattée and former leader John Rustad, had been monitored by a private investigator hired by former executive director Elaine Allan.
Findlay refused to step down, declaring at a municipalities meeting: Global News reported she said, "I'm not going anywhere." But within days, she resigned anyway, with CBC naming Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson as interim leader. The party now has just 27 MLAs listed, while seven departing Conservatives plan to form a new party under Peter Milobar, raising speculation of an early election.
A Caucus Letter and Surveillance Shock
During a tense Wednesday caucus meeting, Conservative MLAs learned that at least 13 people—including five party members—had been placed under surveillance. Rattée and Rustad directly asked Findlay to resign. Party lawyer Bruce Hallsor confirmed that former executive director Elaine Allan had hired a private investigator. Allan did not respond to requests for comment about the monitoring.
Findlay's Authority Questioned
Rattée disputed whether Findlay could legally expel elected MLAs from caucus, since Findlay herself is not an elected representative. The party removed both Rustad and former interim Opposition leader Trevor Halford, who had won praise for his parliamentary work. Their names were stripped from the Conservative caucus website as the party shrunk to 27 listed members.
Seven Conservatives Plan Breakaway Party
Seven departing Conservative MLAs are planning to form a separate political party under interim leader Peter Milobar, CTV News reported. The move reflects deep fractures over Findlay's leadership and strategy. With the independent caucus now at 15 members, political observers are speculating about whether Premier David Eby might call an early election to capitalize on the Conservative collapse and secure an NDP majority.
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