Another MLA leaves the BC Conservative caucus as a possible snap election looms

Surrey-Serpentine River MLA Linda Hepner resigned from the BC Conservative caucus Sunday, criticizing the party leadership’s willingness to listen in a resignation letter obtained by Global News.

Hepner said the removal of Trevor Halford, Claire Rattee and John Rustad from caucus Friday was the decisive reason for her departure. She questioned the strategic rationale for removing the three MLAs, citing their influence within the party and strong polling numbers. She also said grassroots members should be listened to, rather than merely appealed to.

Rustad led the party in the last provincial election, when the BC Conservatives won 44 seats, up from eight at dissolution, while the NDP retained a slim majority. He was replaced as leader by Halford after a caucus vote last year and resigned as party leader in December, although he remained in caucus until last week, when the Office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly confirmed that he and Halford were no longer members.

Hepner also referred to allegations that a former party director hired a private investigator to look into 14 people, including party members and a Victoria-based journalist. She said she urged Kerry-Lynne Findlay to step down as leader on Saturday. Hours after Hepner’s resignation, Findlay announced that she would step down.

Hepner is the 13th MLA to leave the party voluntarily or be removed by its leadership. Her departure reduces the caucus to 25 MLAs as speculation grows that Premier David Eby could call a snap election as soon as this week. Hepner said she would not seek re-election under Findlay’s leadership, but has not decided whether she would run if an early election is called.

Former caucus member Peter Milobar has become leader of CentreBC, joined by several MLAs who recently left the BC Conservatives and by Elenore Sturko, who was ejected from the Conservative caucus last year. The party now has eight MLAs, making it the third-largest party in the legislature. Milobar says it will focus on crime and street safety in B.C., health care and the economy.

Elections BC has outlined advance-voting and election-day dates should an election be called in the coming weeks. If it is called by Tuesday, voting day would be Oct. 24; an election called between Sept. 23 and 29 would put voting day on Halloween. The next scheduled provincial election is Oct. 21, 2028.