Vaughn Palmer: B.C.'s left-wing premier's snap election call unites the right

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal NewsPoliticsOpinionColumnists Vaughn Palmer: B.C.'s left-wing premier's snap election call unites the right Opinion: David Eby assumed he'd be running against a fractured right-wing. Instead, it coalesced under Conservative Lorne Doerkson Author of the article: By Vaughn Palmer Published Sep 22, 2026 Last updated 46 minutes ago 4 minute read Join the conversation David Eby assumed he'd being running against a fractured right-wing. Instead it quickly coalesced under Conservative Lorne Doerkson PHOTO BY DARREN STONE /Victoria Times Colonist Article content VICTORIA — Premier David Eby’s bid for another term in government was predicated on the twin assumptions that he could run hard against Donald Trump and a chaotic B.C. opposition. Article content But half of that strategy went sideways Tuesday with the news that the B.C. Conservatives were reuniting, a development that seemed unthinkable a few days ago. Article content Article content Eby and his overconfident team of advisers grounded their pitch in large measure on attacking Kerry-Lynne Findlay, only to see her resign as B.C. Conservative leader two days before the planned election call. Article content Article content Then came the news that Findlay’s successor, Lorne Doerkson, was inviting former leaders John Rustad and Trevor Halford and MLA Clare Rattée to rejoin the Conservative caucus. They did so Monday along with Scott McInnis and Linda Hepner, two other MLAs who’d left. 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 Still, the New Democrats thought they could run against several parties — B.C. Conservatives, CentreBC, what have you — each claiming to be the one-true vehicle for voters on the centre right. Article content That option lapsed when MLA Peter Milobar returned to the B.C. Conservatives after a brief turn as leader of CentreBC. He was joined by six other returnees, including some of the strongest MLAs on the Opposition side. Article content Only one of the original group of eight who had gathered around Milobar, Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Elenore Sturko, chose to remain with what was left of CentreBC. She may have enough admirers among the Conservatives…