BREAKING: Kerry-Lynne Findlay buckles under pressure, resigns as B.C. Conservative leader

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal News BREAKING: Kerry-Lynne Findlay buckles under pressure, resigns as B.C. Conservative leader Findlay was elected leader of a deeply divided party in May, and the fractures continued all summer with MLAs jumping ship Author of the article: By Alec Lazenby, J.J. Adams Published Sep 20, 2026 Last updated 7 minutes ago 2 minute read Join the conversation Kerry-Lynne Findlay. PHOTO BY NICK PROCAYLO /PNG Article content Embattled B.C. Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay has stepped down as the head of her party. Article content Speculation began Saturday afternoon that Findlay would resign, and she made it official with a statement released on Sunday, hours after Surrey-Serpentine River MLA Linda Hepner announced she had resigned from caucus. Article content Article content Under the party’s constitution an interim leader is decided by the board, but can be voted on by caucus and then approved by party executives. Article content Article content Findlay had been presiding over a fractured party ever since being elected as leader in May. The most recent incident involved the revelation a private investigator had been hired to spy on more than two dozen current and former members of her own party, as well as journalists. Article content Sunrise Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content She is set to run in a byelection Sept. 26 for MLA in Abbotsford-Mission. Reann Gasper stepped down from the position in August to open a legislative seat for Findlay. Gasper is now Findlay’s chief of staff. Article content At least two MLAs reportedly asked her to step aside in an emergency caucus meeting Wednesday night in Vancouver, after revelations of the private investigations came light. Article content Findlay had won leadership of the B.C. Conservatives in May, getting 51 per cent of the vote, and taking over from interim leader Trevor Halford. He took over from John Rustad, who resigned in December 2025 after 20 MLAs signed a letter of non-confidence. Article content On Friday, Rustad and Halford were cut loose from the party by Findlay. Rustad was told by text he was out, only to see it recanted 15 minutes later, but was told again the following…