Muhammad Amanullah
Date: September 21, 2026 The True Post (Web News) —

British Columbia Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay has resigned from her position, effective immediately, following weeks of internal turmoil, caucus departures and growing uncertainty ahead of a possible snap provincial election.

Findlay announced her resignation on Sunday, September 20, saying the decision was not easy but that she believed it was the right choice for the party and British Columbia.

Her resignation came only hours after Surrey-Serpentine River MLA Linda Hepner announced that she was leaving the Conservative caucus. Hepner cited a loss of confidence in the party leadership’s willingness to listen to experienced members and consider different perspectives. (Global News)

Internal Conflict Within the Party

In her resignation statement, Findlay said she had hoped to spend her first months as leader travelling across British Columbia, listening to residents and presenting the case for a strong and united Conservative movement.

Instead, she said, too much of the party’s time and attention had been consumed by internal conflict.

Findlay acknowledged that some decisions made during her short tenure could have been handled differently. She said she had listened, reflected and accepted responsibility for decisions that were hers to make. (CityNews Toronto)

Findlay was elected leader of the B.C. Conservatives in May 2026, meaning her leadership lasted fewer than four months.

Linda Hepner Leaves Caucus

Hepner’s resignation came shortly before Findlay announced her own departure.

The Surrey-Serpentine River MLA said she had lost confidence in the party leadership and objected particularly to the decision to remove three experienced MLAs from the Conservative caucus.

Hepner specifically pointed to the removal of former leader John Rustad, former interim leader Trevor Halford and Skeena MLA Claire Rattée from caucus on September 18. (CFJC Today Kamloops)

Following Hepner’s departure, the Conservatives had 24 MLAs remaining in the legislature, according to the B.C. legislature’s membership figures reported by The Canadian Press and CBC. (CFJC Today Kamloops)

Findlay to Remain Abbotsford-Mission Candidate

Although Findlay has resigned as party leader, she has confirmed that she will remain the Conservative candidate in the Abbotsford-Mission byelection, scheduled for September 26.

In her resignation statement, Findlay said she intended to continue working to earn the confidence of voters in the riding.

The leadership change therefore does not end her political campaign, but it leaves the provincial party without a permanent leader at a particularly sensitive time. (Sitka Media)

Three Senior Figures Removed From Caucus

The leadership crisis escalated last week when Findlay removed Rustad, Halford and Rattée from the Conservative caucus.

In a September 18 statement, the party said the three MLAs would no longer serve as members of the Conservative caucus. Findlay said the party needed to remain focused on preparing for a possible election and defeating David Eby’s NDP government. (Conservative Party of British Columbia)

The move followed increasing pressure from within the caucus for changes to the party’s leadership.

Findlay had said only days earlier that she was “not going anywhere”, but the situation changed rapidly over the following weekend. (Global News)

Fourteen MLAs Have Now Left

The scale of the upheaval has become one of the defining features of the B.C. Conservative crisis.

According to reports following Hepner’s departure, 14 MLAs have now left the Conservative caucus under Findlay’s leadership, either by resigning voluntarily or being removed.

Several former Conservatives have joined CentreBC, a new political organization led by former Conservative MLA Peter Milobar.

Eight former Conservative MLAs joined CentreBC on September 18, making it the third-largest party in the B.C. legislature. (Global News)

CentreBC has said its priorities include crime and public safety, health care and the economy.

CentreBC Emerges as New Political Force

Peter Milobar, a former B.C. Conservative caucus member, has taken over as leader of CentreBC.

The group includes several former Conservative MLAs who had initially discussed creating a separate political party. Instead, they joined CentreBC alongside Elenore Sturko, who had previously been removed from the Conservative caucus under former leader John Rustad. (Global News)

The development has changed the opposition landscape in British Columbia and created another political organization that could compete in a future provincial election.

Debate Over Findlay’s Leadership

The Conservative leadership dispute had been building for several weeks.

Several MLAs who left the caucus cited concerns about Findlay’s leadership and the direction of the party.

There was also controversy surrounding appointments made by Findlay and members of her political staff. Some former Conservative MLAs argued that certain appointments were shifting the party’s political direction.

Findlay rejected allegations against her and her team earlier in September, describing them as baseless and arguing that her political opponents were attempting to disrupt her campaign in the Abbotsford-Mission byelection. (Conservative Party of British Columbia)

Personal Attacks and Family Concerns

In announcing her resignation, Findlay also addressed what she described as attacks on her character and threats directed at her and her family.

She said she is a wife, mother and grandmother and argued that political disagreement should not become personal destruction.

Findlay said her children and grandchildren were exposed to comments made about her, while decisions made in public life could also have consequences for family members.

Her statement emphasized that political disagreements should remain within appropriate boundaries. (CityNews Toronto)

Who Will Lead the Party?

The immediate question for the B.C. Conservatives is who will take over as interim leader.

Former Conservative leader John Rustad said after Findlay’s resignation that the next interim leader did not necessarily have to be a sitting MLA.

Rustad said the key requirement would be someone capable of bringing the party together and presenting a political vision for British Columbia. (CityNews Toronto)

The party will now have to determine its leadership arrangements while also dealing with the consequences of the recent departures.

Snap Election Speculation

Findlay’s resignation comes amid speculation that Premier David Eby could call a snap provincial election.

The scheduled date for British Columbia’s next provincial election is October 21, 2028, but recent political developments have fuelled speculation that an election could be called much earlier.

Elections BC has already outlined potential election dates depending on when a writ might be issued.

According to Global News, an election called by September 22 would result in voting on October 24, while a writ issued between September 23 and 29 would put election day on October 31. (Global News)

No snap election had been formally announced at the time of Findlay’s resignation.

A Difficult Period for the Opposition

The leadership change leaves the B.C. Conservatives facing several immediate challenges.

The party must establish interim leadership, manage its reduced caucus, respond to the emergence of CentreBC and prepare for the possibility of a provincial election.

At the same time, former Conservative MLAs remain divided over the direction the party should take.

The Conservatives therefore enter a period of political reorganization at a time when British Columbia’s opposition landscape is already changing rapidly.

What Comes Next

Findlay’s resignation marks a significant change for the B.C. Conservative Party only months after she won its leadership.

The party now faces the task of rebuilding its caucus and determining how it will operate under new leadership.

Meanwhile, CentreBC’s emergence and the possibility of an early election add further uncertainty to provincial politics.

For voters, the immediate focus will be on how the Conservatives choose their next leader, whether former members return or remain outside the party, and how the competing opposition groups position themselves if British Columbians are called to the polls earlier than currently scheduled.

The next few weeks are therefore likely to be important for determining the future structure of British Columbia’s provincial opposition.