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Kerry-Lynne Findlay has resigned as the leader of B.C.’s Conservative Party effective immediately.
Findlay made the announcement in a social media post Sunday afternoon.
“This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right one for our movement and our province,” she wrote.
It comes amidst speculation of a snap election and a time of tumult for the Conservative caucus. MLA Linda Hepner left the caucus just hours earlier, joining a growing group of MLAs the party has lost since Findlay was elected leader.
In her statement, Findlay said too much time and attention has been “consumed by internal conflict” and has been “spent fighting amongst ourselves.”
But she said the voice of the party’s members — those who elected her leader in May — matters.
“No political party can ask its members for their time, their money, and their trust and then decide their voices only matter when they produce the outcome some people want,” it said.
WATCH | B.C. Conservative Party leader resigns:
Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigns as leader of the B.C. Conservative Party
Kerry-Lynne Findlay has announced she’s stepping down as leader of the B.C. Conservative Party. Her resignation comes less than four months after she took over as leader, and on the same day former Surrey, B.C., mayor Linda Hepner resigned from caucus. The party has lost 14 MLAs since Findlay became leader in May.
She also wrote she has been subject to attacks on her character and threats.
“My children and grandchildren see what is written and said. My family lives with the consequences of decisions I make in public life,” she said.
Findlay says she will remain the Conservative candidate in the Abbotsford-Mission byelection set for Sept. 26.
It’s unclear who will lead the party in the interim.
There has been widespread speculation that Premier David Eby may call a snap election in the coming days, disrupting municipal elections — set for Oct. 17 — with a provincial vote.
Party turmoil
The resignation comes as Findlay had been facing an internal revolt among her MLAs.
Since she was elected, Findlay has faced criticism from some party members over some of her staff hirings, which several of the departed MLAs said brought the party further to the far-right.
On Friday, three MLAs were ousted, including former party leader John Rustad.
Last month, Reann Gasper also resigned as Abbotsford-Mission MLA to open a path for Findlay to win a seat in the legislature through a byelection.
10 MLAs have quit the B.C. Conservative caucus since mid-August — the latest being Hepner.
Her exit brings the total number of MLAs to leave the B.C. Conservative Party caucus to 14.
Eight of those MLAs on Friday joined CentreBC, which they say will provide a political option to those who felt politically homeless.
At a tense caucus meeting Wednesday night, John Rustad and Claire Rattée called on Findlay to resign.
She was defiant Thursday morning, saying in her Union of B.C. Municipalities speech: “I’m not going anywhere.”
On Thursday night, Findlay fired three MLAs: Rustad, Rattée and Trevor Halford.
Rustad said he was fired via a late night text message, which Findlay rescinded 15 minutes later. By Friday morning, he was fired again.
Findlay also recently denied having any knowledge about a private investigator allegedly hired by her close political ally, Elaine Allan, who served as party executive director for less than a month in August.