By Greg Fry

BC Politics

Sheldon Clare to seek leadership of Conservative Party of BC

Jan 7, 2026 | 3:58 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Prince George-North Cariboo MLA Sheldon Clare says he’ll run for the leadership of the Conservative Party of BC.

Clare says he’ll release his platform at a formal announcement later this month but says he made the decision over the holidays.

“There were a lot of people who contacted me and asked me if I would consider putting my name forward and I thought about it over the Christmas break,” he told CKPG News. “I think I can put together a team that will do a good job of holding the NDP to account and when we have an election, putting that team forward to form government.”

Clare adds he wants to do what he can to defeat the NDP government come the next election.

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“It seemed to me that if we’re going to be looking at what has happened to this province in terms of resource extraction being shut down, strange use of ideological agendas to stifle development and the state of our economy, the issues about private property, health care – there is so much that has just gone down the drain in the last several years that needs serious attention and addressing. And a completely different direction and I think that I’m the guy to help make that happen.”

Clare has been an MLA for just over a year after he was elected in the 2024 provincial election. He was also a history instructor at the College of New Caledonia and the former president and CEO of the National Firearms Association.

The opportunity to run follows John Rustad’s decision to resign as leader last month.