Internal turmoil deepens within B.C. Conservatives
Victoria — Two Members of the Legislative Assembly have abandoned the B.C. Conservative caucus and the party leader has accepted the resignation of her chief of staff, further destabilizing a caucus already riven by defections and allegations.
Donegal Wilson (Boundary–Similkameen) and Scott McInnis (Columbia River–Revelstoke) both announced they will sit as Independents, each citing loss of confidence in party leadership and concerns about the direction of the party since Kerry‑Lynne Findlay became leader. Their departures raise to nine the number of MLAs who have left the Conservative bench in recent weeks.
"I have spent my career serving in positions of significant public trust... I have always conducted myself accordingly,"
Findlay, responding to the spate of exits and to the resignation of her chief of staff, described the situation as a co‑ordinated political attack and rejected accusations aimed at her and members of her team.
Chief of staff resigns amid allegations about offers to MLAs
Chris Delaney resigned as Findlay’s chief of staff shortly after the two MLAs announced their exits. Delaney has been a central figure in allegations that lawmakers were offered positions in exchange for stepping aside so the new leader — who does not yet hold a seat in the legislature — could contest a byelection. The RCMP has been reported to have conducted interviews connected to those claims.
One MLA who previously left the caucus, Ian Paton (Delta South), has said he was offered an advisory post in exchange for resigning; that claim contributed to the RCMP’s involvement. The party has a byelection in Abbotsford‑Mission on the calendar after the resignation of Reann Gasper, who was appointed to a senior staff role within Findlay’s office before Delaney’s departure.
Immediate implications for the Opposition and voters
- Caucus stability: Nine defections in weeks signal a major fracture in the Official Opposition.
- Byelection stakes: The controversy surrounds the process for securing a legislative seat for the leader.
- Police involvement: RCMP interviews indicate the matter has moved beyond internal party dispute to a formal probe.
The party’s official statement emphasised its commitment to holding the government to account and to restoring prosperity for British Columbians, but the series of resignations and public disputes over staffing decisions and alleged inducements are likely to dominate headlines ahead of the upcoming vote in Abbotsford‑Mission.
| Who | Role | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Donegal Wilson | MLA, Boundary–Similkameen | Left caucus, now Independent |
| Scott McInnis | MLA, Columbia River–Revelstoke | Left caucus, now Independent |
| Chris Delaney | Chief of staff to Kerry‑Lynne Findlay | Resigned |
As the party contends with internal fallout, voters in constituencies affected by these events — and observers across the province — will be watching for further developments, any formal findings from law enforcement and how the Conservatives intend to present a united alternative to the governing NDP.
— Antoine Morin, British Columbia correspondent
