Local reaction to election of new BC Conservative leader

But, as one long-time provincial cabinet minister noted, Findlay has her work cut out for her.

The number one word on Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s mind this morning needs to be unity. She needs to work with the members of caucus to ensure that, you know, they are headed in the same direction. She has a number of independent conservatives that she needs to consider where they end up. Do they come back into the fold or do they remain independents?

And that question begs the next: Will there be division within the ranks, with such a diverse collection of MLA’s?

“The big challenge I think facing both David Eby and Kerry-Lynne Findlay is the middle. And we know that typically in order for the right side of the political spectrum to be successful, they need a coalition,” says Shirley Bond, former MLA and long-time cabinet minister. “They need to be able to convince members who are more centrist in their views that there is a place for them in the party.”

Another challenge facing Findlay moving forward, she does not have a seat in the BC Legislature.

“There’s no requirement that a leader of a political party have a seat in the legislature, but it sure does help to be there for the cut and the thrust and the parry of question period and other things,” says Morris. “Somebody has to resign for her to then contest the seat. Maybe it would be interesting possibility if it was, you know, a member that was formerly leading a party to, to step aside after a long term of good service to possibly bring to northern BC a potential future premier.”

But Morris says, she has plenty of time over the summer to get settled into the new role as leader of the BC Conservative Party.

by Cheryl Jahn

Local reaction to election of new BC Conservative leader

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