Two More B.C. Conservative MLAs Quit Caucus as Exodus Grows to Nine

Liam O'Connell

9/3/20263 min read

Two more B.C. Conservative MLAs have quit the party caucus to sit as Independents, deepening the turmoil surrounding Opposition Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay.

Boundary-Similkameen MLA Donegal Wilson and Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis announced their departures Wednesday, becoming the eighth and ninth members to leave the Conservative caucus in recent weeks.

Both said they had lost confidence in Findlay’s leadership.

“I never imagined things could go this wrong, this quickly,” Wilson said in a statement.

Wilson, who was elected in 2024, said she continues to consider herself a conservative but has concerns about the direction of the party and decisions made since Findlay became leader in May.

Wilson Raises Concerns About Staffing Decisions

Wilson said communication within the Conservative organization had deteriorated and raised particular concerns about recent staffing changes.

She said experienced staff members had departed or been dismissed while questioning some of the people selected for senior positions under Findlay.

Wilson said her political principles had not changed but her confidence in the leader had.

Her departure came shortly before McInnis announced that he, too, would leave the caucus.

McInnis Says Party Has Become an ‘Exclusive Private Club’

McInnis said he could no longer support what he described as the “direction, judgment and decisions of Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s leadership.”

“The party has increasingly become an exclusive private club more concerned with ideological bona fides than building the broad coalition required to serve British Columbians and form government,” McInnis said.

He said his priority remained representing the people of Columbia River-Revelstoke and that he no longer believed he could effectively accomplish that within the Conservative caucus.

Their departures follow seven other MLAs who have left the party.

The most recent before Wilson and McInnis was Chilliwack-Cultus Lake MLA Á'aíya Warbus, who announced Monday that she had also lost confidence in Findlay.

Conservatives Say Official Opposition Work Continues

The B.C. Conservative caucus said in a statement that it remains focused on its responsibilities as the province’s Official Opposition.

The party said its priority continues to be holding the NDP government accountable and working to restore prosperity in British Columbia.

Findlay, meanwhile, rejected criticism from departing caucus members as baseless.

“What we are seeing is a co-ordinated political attack designed to sidetrack our campaign at the very moment we are taking our message directly to the people of Abbotsford-Mission,” she said.

Findlay pointed to her previous positions of public responsibility, including her work as a lawyer, Canadian Human Rights Tribunal judge, King’s Counsel, federal cabinet minister and member of the King’s Privy Council for Canada.

Findlay Preparing for Abbotsford-Mission Byelection

Findlay does not currently hold a seat in the B.C. Legislature and is preparing to run in a byelection in Abbotsford-Mission.

The seat is becoming vacant after Conservative MLA Reann Gasper announced she would step down to allow Findlay an opportunity to enter the legislature.

Gasper subsequently joined Findlay’s staff as deputy chief of staff and has now been named chief of staff following the resignation of Chris Delaney on Wednesday.

The party has faced significant staff turnover since Findlay won the leadership in May.

Findlay has also faced allegations that she attempted to persuade sitting MLAs to give up their seats so she could enter the legislature, allegations she has denied and characterized as a political smear.

Former Conservatives Planning New Party

The departures have also opened the possibility of another political organization emerging on the right of the B.C. political spectrum.

Former Conservative MLAs Peter Milobar and Ian Paton have said they intend to establish a new political party after leaving Findlay’s caucus.

With Wilson and McInnis now sitting as Independents, nine MLAs have departed the B.C. Conservative caucus during the recent internal upheaval, increasing pressure on Findlay as she prepares for the Abbotsford-Mission byelection and attempts to stabilize the Official Opposition.

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