The wacky world of B.C. politics: Conservative leader resigns and two elections loom
One thing is almost certain on this Monday morning: it will likely not be a slow news week after some major moves in B.C. politics this past weekend.
Last week, at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention, we heard from B.C. Premier David Eby, and many presumed he would be making an election announcement.
That didn’t happen, but he did make some major announcements that almost sounded like election campaign promises, including dropping the planned PST tax expansion that was going to take place on Oct. 1. He also announced that the next generation of BC Ferries would be built right here in B.C., as opposed to the initial plan to have them built in China.
Then, on Sunday, B.C. Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay announced her resignation, which didn’t come as soon as some might have expected.
This is all transpiring as municipal elections are just under a month away.
Reaction to the B.C. Conservative leader resigning
KerryLynneFindl/X
Findlay’s resignation came after 10 MLAs left the Conservative caucus in just a month’s time. It also came just days after she told folks at the UBCM that she intended to remain party leader.
In a statement, she said she’ll remain the party’s candidate in a byelection taking place on Sept. 26 for the Abbotsford-Mission riding. That seat was vacated by an MLA to provide a path for Findlay to enter the B.C. legislature.
“I 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,” she wrote Sunday.
Lorne Doerkson is now being recommended as the interim leader for the party.
Independent MLA Peter Milobar has started CentreBC, a party that will exist to seemingly serve this gaping hole on the right.
As leader, my vision of @VoteCentreBC is growing a political movement that welcomes diverse, respectful debate and dialogue on all issues — economic and societal. I want to apologize to @NVanCaroline for a tweet drafted by a volunteer this morning. We will only repair the damage…
— Peter Milobar (@PeterMilobar) September 19, 2026
Findlay received over 1,000 replies to her post on X regarding her resignation.
“After you’ve burnt it to the ground. WOW,” said Guy Felicella.
“Good. You ran a divisive campaign and imploded a party you had no part in building,” someone else responded.
Someone else said, “Alberta and Saskatchewan are the only options left for conservative Canadians.”
Thank you for making the decision and it’s time to regroup with the correct people.
I hope this is a learning experience. Being a leader of a party is quite different than being the party whip.
All the best in the by-election.
— Travis A.G Beauregard 🇨🇦🦬✝️ (@travisagladue) September 20, 2026
A comment on our article about Findlay’s resignation: someone suggested that Eby haters should move to Alberta.
Duelling elections?
@electionsbc/Instagram
The timing of all the provincial politics news leaves B.C. residents in a peculiar spot, something that reporters repeatedly harped on when questioning Eby at the UBCM on Friday.
Cities around the province will be heading to the polls for municipal elections on Oct. 17.
If Eby announces a provincial snap election, which many are speculating, it means that voters will have two upcoming elections to vote in.
Outgoing UBCM president Cori Ramsay was one of many who said we need “distinct local and provincial election periods.”
“With rampant speculation that a snap provincial election is imminent, it is incumbent on provincial leaders to uphold the principle of separate periods for local and provincial elections,” Ramsay said.
“The campaign period for local elections is about to begin in 188 communities across the province. With over 3,500 candidates competing and with a wide range of issues facing B.C.’s communities, residents cannot afford to be distracted from local campaigns by a snap provincial election call.”
In response to the criticism, Eby told reporters on Friday that he had no election announcement to make “today,” but it definitely didn’t sound like he was ruling it out entirely.
If Eby does call an election, we know roughly when it’ll take place, thanks to Elections BC.
According to Elections BC, if Eby called a snap election today or tomorrow, advance voting would be held between Oct. 16 and Oct. 21, with the final voting day being Oct. 24.
If he called it between Sept. 23 and 29, advance voting would be Oct. 23 to Oct. 28, with the final voting day being Halloween, paving the way for a potentially costumed election day.
Political parties in Vancouver have already begun campaigning, and many fear that a B.C. provincial election would drown out the voices of municipal leaders and municipal politics.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim will be attempting to convince voters to let him run City Hall for another term. At the same time, progressive candidates have aligned behind Vancouver Green Party Leader Pete Fry.
One thing’s for sure: no matter which side of the political spectrum you fall on, the next month is going to be an absolute gong show in B.C., especially if Eby makes the call.