Lorne Doerkson has been tapped as interim leader of the B.C. Conservatives after Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned Sunday.
B.C. Conservative party president Mauro Francis said late Sunday the party’s board had accepted a recommendation from the caucus to appoint Doerkson as leader.
“We thank Lorne for stepping forward to serve during this important transition. Our caucus and party will now move forward together, focused on providing strong opposition and representing British Columbians across the province,” he said.
Francis said more information about the transition will be shared in the coming days.
Doerkson is the MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin and has served as deputy house leader and assistant deputy speaker for the Conservatives.
He was first elected to the legislature as a B.C. Liberal in 2020. He remained a member after the party’s rebrand to B.C. United, but later crossed the floor and was re-elected as a Conservative in 2024.
Findlay stepped down Sunday after weeks of internal conflict, including an exodus of 10 MLAs from the caucus.
Eight former Conservative MLAs announced Friday they were joining CentreBC, with Peter Milobar taking over as leader for Mike Bernier.
Findlay also removed three MLAs from the caucus late last week as calls rose for her to step down, including former party leader John Rustad.
Rustad told reporters at the legislature Monday morning that Doerkson has invited him to return to the caucus if he wants to, and said they would discuss the matter.
He said “high-level” talks were taking place about a merger of the B.C. Conservatives with CentreBC, and rated the likelihood of that happening at “95 per cent.”
Rustad praised Doerkson as a “quality individual” and said he would be happy to support him as leader in an election.
The Conservative party’s constitution does not allow an interim leader to run as a candidate in a party leadership race, but Rustad said there is a way for Doerkson to become the official leader in the case of a provincial election.
Parties are scrambling to prepare for a potential early election, with many speculating that Premier David Eby will make the announcement as soon as Tuesday.
Eby has avoided confirming any imminent election call, but confirmed his former chief of staff had been hired as the NDP’s campaign manager for the next election.
