Kerry-Lynne Findlay Enters B.C. Conservative Race, Vows to Block Liberal Takeover
Former federal MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay has officially announced her candidacy for the leadership of the B.C. Conservative Party this week, positioning herself as a defender against what she describes as a stealth takeover by former B.C. Liberals. In a campaign video and news release issued on Thursday, Findlay framed the leadership contest as a critical choice for party members.
A Clear Choice for Party Members
"This race is a simple choice: A reliable Conservative or a Liberal takeover," Findlay declared in her campaign materials. She accused B.C. Liberal insiders of attempting to seize control of the Conservative Party, warning that they aim to appropriate the Conservative name and advance a hidden liberal agenda.
The former Conservative Party of Canada MP for South Surrey-White Rock was unequivocal in her stance. "Let me be clear," she stated. "Liberals are not taking over our Conservative Party. Not on my watch." Findlay pointed to several policies she associates with Liberal governance, including:
- Creation of the carbon tax
- Condemnation of the Freedom Convoy
- Implementation of the SOGI 123 educational resource in B.C. schools
- Support for provincial enabling legislation for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Ideological Purity Tests in Leadership Contest
Findlay is not the first candidate to emphasize ideological purity in this leadership race. Sheldon Clare, MLA for Prince George-North Cariboo, entered the contest earlier this month, self-identifying as a "true blue conservative." He has called for party members to support what he terms "unapologetic conservative leadership" rather than a rebranding of the old B.C. Liberals.
This week, Clare adjusted his messaging on social media, noting: "While my opponents argue about who is more Liberal, I am focused on strong conservative policies that will allow our beautiful province to prosper."
Another leadership hopeful, Yuri Fulmer, who ran for the Conservatives in the last provincial election, has also emphasized the need to maintain the party's conservative identity. "We have to keep this party Conservative," Fulmer asserted on his social media account this week.
Internal Party Dynamics and Accusations
While Findlay did not specifically name any leadership candidates as harboring Liberal tendencies, Fulmer has directly targeted Caroline Elliott. He highlighted that Elliott has donated to the Liberals multiple times, including during and after the last election, and has never donated to the Conservatives.
"We don't need another Liberal party," Fulmer charged. "We need to protect our party. We need to build B.C." Elliott, a well-connected former provincial Liberal, was briefly a candidate for the successor B.C. United party and played a role in negotiations to withdraw that party ahead of the 2024 election.
The leadership race is shaping up to be a significant test for the B.C. Conservative Party, with candidates vigorously debating the party's direction and ideological boundaries. As the contest unfolds, the focus on preventing perceived Liberal influence continues to dominate the discourse among contenders.
