Kerry-Lynne Findlay steps down as leader of B.C. Conservatives
Published 1:48 pm Sunday, September 20, 2026
Kerry-Lynne Findlay has announced she’s stepping down as leader of the B.C. Conservatives.
“Sometimes leadership means stepping forward. Sometimes leadership means standing your ground. And sometimes leadership means knowing when the interests of something larger than yourself require you to step aside,” she said.
“Today, I am choosing to step aside.”
She posted the statement to social media Sunday afternoon (Sept. 20).
Findlay said it was not an easy decision, but it is one she believes is the “right one for our movement and our province.”
She said from the outset of her becoming leader “too much of our time and attention has been consumed by internal conflict.”
However, she added that leadership requires accountability.
“I have made decisions I would make differently with the benefit of hindsight. I have listened. I have reflected. And I take responsibility for the decisions that were mine to make,” Findlay said.
She added that she will “not allow an internal battle over my leadership to become a continuing distraction from the work British Columbians need a strong opposition to do.”
Findlay’s statement came hours after another defection from her party when Surrey Serpentine MLA Linda Hepner quit caucus. Hepner was the tenth MLA to quit caucus under Findlay – all citing issues with her leadership.
Findlay was elected as leader of the party on May 30.
In addition to the 10 MLAs that quit the party, Findlay removed three other MLAs from caucus on Friday (Sept. 18): Skeena MLA Claire Rattée, Nechako-Lakes MLA John Rustad and Surrey–White Rock MLA Trevor Halford.
Some of the MLAs that quit the B.C. Conservatives banded together to form a centrist party, ultimately joining with Centre B.C. on Friday.
Another former MLA, Reann Gasper, resigned from her seat in Abbotsford-Mission at the end of August to allow Findlay to run for a seat in a byelection.
Findlay says she is still remaining as the Conservative candidate in the byelection.
“I have spent much of my life in public service, and my belief in service – and in this province – remains unchanged.”
That byelection is still set for Saturday, Sept. 26. Advance voting began on Friday.
There are currently 24 sitting B.C. Conservative MLAs.