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Following the resignation of another BC Conservative MLA, Kerry-Lynne Findlay says she is stepping down as party leader.
Findlay made the announcement on X at around 1:30 p.m. local time, saying it was “not an easy decision” but calling it “the right decision” for the province.
“I will not allow internal disputes over my leadership to become a continued distraction from the work British Columbians need to do that requires strong opposition,” Findlay wrote.
His resignation came just hours after Surrey-Serpentine River MLA Linda Hepner said she was stepping down from the caucus.
Hepner told Global News in an interview that it was the removal of John Rustad, Trevor Halford and Claire Rattee from the caucus on Friday that prompted him to leave.
“I’m just confused as to why taking those three leaves of absence was a good strategic decision,” he said. “At that point, I decided enough was enough.”
Hepner is the 13th MLA to leave the party either voluntarily or after being ousted by party leadership.
Hepner’s departure reduces the party’s caucus to 25 and comes as talk increases that Prime Minister David Eby may call a by-election as early as this week.
In his resignation letter, Findlay said he wanted to travel around the province and meet with residents to share his views on what a “strong and united” Conservative movement could do.
“On the contrary, from the start, too much of our time and attention was taken up by internal conflicts,” he said.
Findlay also addressed decisions made in recent months, saying leadership requires accountability.
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“I’ve made decisions that I would have made differently looking back,” he said. “I have listened. I have reflected. And I take responsibility for the decisions I make.”
While there have been no announcements yet, there are hopes that a by-election could be held as early as next week.
But with the BC Conservative Party without a leader, Findlay emphasized that the party “needs to reorganize.”
He also added that he will remain the party’s candidate in the upcoming Abbotsford-Mission by-election and will work to earn the trust of his residents.
The party has faced continued difficulties in recent months, including the exit of several MLAs, with each citing Findlay’s leadership as the main reason for leaving.
Peter Milobar was one of the first, and has since become the new leader of the CentreBC party, followed by several MLAs who left the Conservatives.
Milobar and several MLAs who also left the party in recent weeks had talked about forming a new party, but decided to join CentreBC along with Elenore Sturko, who was dropped from the Conservative caucus last year.
The party is now the third largest party in the legislature, with eight MLAs. Milobar said his focus is on crime and safety on B.C.’s roads, health care and the economy.
Following Findlay’s resignation, CentreBC said in a post on
“We will put forward serious and stable options at the next election to defeat the disastrous NDP government,” the party’s X account said.
Claire Rattee said Sunday in a statement that she plans to run for re-election under the BC Conservative banner when the next election is held.
However, since he was removed from the caucus, he will likely need to be officially invited back to the caucus to run for the party.
He went on to say that Prime Minister David Eby was considering snap elections to “take advantage of internal turmoil” within the party.
“That opportunity has passed,” Rattee wrote. “The current change in leadership provides an opportunity for MLAs to come together, chart a clear path forward, and build a unified and credible government capable of defeating David Eby.”
A date for the by-election has not yet been announced, but recent funding announcements by the provincial government have hinted at the possibility of an election being held soon even as municipal election campaigns have begun.
Elections BC also recently released a document outlining early voting dates and election days if voting will take place in the coming weeks. It says that if the election were held this Tuesday, British Columbians would go to the polls on October 24, while an election held between September 23 and 29 would result in election day being held on Halloween.
The current scheduled date for the next provincial election is October 21, 2028.
—with files from Amy Judd of Global News
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
