Seventh MLA walks as B.C. Conservative turmoil deepens

Warbus also mentioned a caucus meeting that was expected after a difficult week. During that week, six MLAs left, allegations surfaced involving the party’s director of operations, and former Conservative MLAs Dallas Brodie, Tara Armstrong, Jordan Kealy, Rosalyn Bird, David Williams, and Brennan Day made public statements. The meeting was postponed for a month.

She is now the seventh Conservative MLA to leave the caucus in about two weeks.

Warbus said people in British Columbia need steady leadership. She warned that voters should be concerned about the ongoing departures of MLAs, staff, and riding association members. She said she still supports conservative principles and “common sense policies,” but no longer believes Findlay can lead the party to government.

The BC Conservatives had not made a public response to Warbus’ announcement.

Former deputy premier Shirley Bond said the number of departures surprised almost everyone.

“Typically after a leadership race, there’s usually a pretty positive bump. There’s new members, there’s enthusiasm, there’s energy around the party. And we’re seeing the exact opposite here,” Bond said.

Bond said the bigger question is who is looking after the province while the party deals with internal conflict.

“We’re getting ready for kids to go back to school. They’re worried about affordability. They’re worried about safety,” she said. “Instead, all we’re seeing is ongoing political chaos. And that’s really unfortunate for families who are just wondering, ‘How am I going to get through the next day?'”

Bond said that without an effective opposition, the government has more freedom to act.

“He has a runway where there is literally no effective opposition holding his feet to the fire,” Bond said of Premier David Eby. “And that’s the job of the official opposition. It is literally to hold the government to account. That’s not happening currently.”

Bond said she also hears from people who feel politically homeless.

“They’re centre-right thinkers, but there’s no place for them to go,” she said. “Historically, you need a big tent on the centre-right to be able to actually win government.”

This turmoil is happening as the Conservatives get ready for a by-election in Abbotsford-Mission next month. Findlay, who became leader earlier this year, is hoping to win a seat in the legislature in that vote.

Bond said if the party loses there, it will raise a bigger question. “Who’s going to pick up the pieces of the BC Conservative Party?” she said.

Dr. Hamish Telford, a political scientist at the University of the Fraser Valley, said the province is seeing a realignment and he expects more resignations.

“I suspect more will leave in the coming days,” Telford said. “The rumour mill suggests anywhere from two or three up to a dozen. I’d be surprised to see a full dozen. But I think for sure two or three more.”

Telford said there are more Independents in the legislature than usual, and voters are looking for another option.

“They would like to see a viable opposition stand up and challenge the NDP and be in a position to actually win the next election,” he said. “Whether this can not only get launched, but actually take off, remains to be seen.”

by Dave Branco

Seventh MLA walks as B.C. Conservative turmoil deepens

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