B.C. Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay says her party is unified and ready to get out and hear from British Columbians following the party’s caucus retreat in Penticton.
Findlay, backed by her caucus, spoke to reporters at the Penticton Lakeside Resort and Conference Centre in the second media scrum since her May 30 leadership race victory.
“We know our purpose, know what we intend to do, what we want to do,” Findlay said. “We’re going to be talking to constituents throughout the whole summertime about our vision for the future, because we intend to deliver. We are people of action.”
One of those intentions is to show British Columbians that the Conservative Party is a government-in-waiting, ready to take over from the NDP.
Questions immediately flew about the surprise announcement from Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boutlbee that she would be joining the NDP. Boultbee was elected in 2024 as a Conservative, but left the next year after sparring with former leader John Rustad.
Findley downplayed the impact of Boultbee’s floor-crossing.
And she would not say whether Independent Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong — who also left after sparring with Rustad, first joining OneBC, then becoming an Independent — would rejoin the party.
“We’re focused on this team, these amazing 38 MLAs that are standing with me, and I’ve spent this first month meeting each one-on-one,” Findlay said. “That discussion is for the future, but right now I’m concentrating on the team I have, those that are here and ready to serve.”
Findlay does not currently have a seat in the legislature and said that she hopes to get in as soon as possible, while noting that the by-election process could take time and that discussions with the current MLAs are ongoing about whether someone might step aside to clear a path.
“We’re having those discussions, but no decision has yet been made,” she said. “But I’m looking forward to it, because I want to get into the debate and the fight on the floor of the house, and I think my team’s looking forward to me being there with them too.”
Much of her press conference was dedicated to party issues, with little revealed about her policy intentions.
Alberta’s new pipeline proposals and B.C.’s related agreement with the federal government did come up. Findlay said many questions remained regarding the details.
“We question why not the northern route, which would have been probably half the cost. We question the fact there are challenges with this route in terms of actually getting through the Coquihalla,” Findlay said. “We’ll see what the details are, but we’re glad to see the engines of prosperity in terms of this pipeline, which will bring good-paying jobs.”
She added that under her government there wouldn’t have been obstruction for a new pipeline, and that the Conservatives would have seen it go through the northern route, despite extensive opposition from First Nations to ending the federal moratorium on heavy oil tankers docking in North Coast, which would be required for that route to work.
The biggest new policy pitch Findlay made was for a western alliance of provinces, under which she wants interprovincial trade barriers removed.
READ MORE: Penticton-Summerland MLA Boultbee joins Eby’s B.C. NDP