A byelection has been called in British Columbia after a B.C. Conservative MLA resigned last week, giving leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay a chance to sit in the legislature.
But in many ways, the timing could not be worse for Findlay, whose caucus has lost six MLAs in recent weeks.
An audio recording appeared on social media Thursday of a person who sounds like Findlay saying she thought if someone stepped aside as a legislator, “I could give them a role as senior adviser in their same portfolio.”
The MLA who resigned, Reann Gasper, has since become Findlay’s deputy chief of staff.
Findlay has addressed the recording and said suggestions it shows her illegally offering jobs to legislators in exchange for resigning so she could stand in a byelection are “preposterous.”
The B.C. Conservative leader currently does not hold a seat in the legislature. The byelection is set for Sept. 26.
Trevor Bolin, the party’s former leader, said the timing of the audio’s release “couldn’t be worse” because of various issues facing the Conservatives.
“I think, you know, Kerri-Lynne needs to get a handle on not only her leadership with the caucus, but as well as the MLAs and the members in British Columbia,” Bolin told Global News.
Findlay said on social media Thursday that it appeared the “unverified” audio recording was made at a July caucus meeting, calling it a “political smear job.”
It is illegal under the Criminal Code to negotiate a reward or benefit related to resignation from political office, but Findlay said the comments in the recording, published by an anonymous account known as “The Findlay Files,” were “normal political discussions” that did not constitute a criminal offence.
In addition to the Criminal Code bribery prohibition, which is subject to up to five years’ prison, BC legislature standing orders ban the offer of money or other advantages to members for promoting any matter “depending or to be transacted” in the house.
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The B.C. RCMP said it was aware of the social media post.
“However, generally speaking, the RCMP does not confirm or deny any investigation, or the identity of any person who may be subject to an investigation, until such time as charges have been laid,” a spokesperson said in an email Friday.
It’s not only the audio hanging over Findlay going into a byelection. Six MLAs have left the party in the past month, four of them in the past week.
The exodus began Aug. 14, when longtime MLA Peter Milobar announced he would leave the party to sit as an independent.
About 10 days later, Ian Paton left the BC Conservatives and signalled he and Milobar planned to form a new party before the fall legislative session.
Since Aug. 24, four others have left: Rosalyn Bird, Teresa Wat, Brennan Day and Bruce Banman.
Bolin also said he’s hearing six to eight more Conservative MLAs could leave before the fall sitting.
“There’s obviously an issue in the party, there’s an issue in caucus, there’s an issue with the executive,” he said. “Don’t hide from it, don’t deny it, take it head on and fix this issue because the last thing we need is more centre-to-right parties popping up just to split that vote.”
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He added he believes the party can recover ahead of a potential general election, which has to be held no later than October 2028, but encouraged Findlay to change the closed-door meetings policy, improve transparency and work with communities and her MLAs.
“Parties last forever, leaders come and go, MLAs come and go, politicians have expiry dates, but at the end of the day, the platforms and the policies that the members put in place are what lasts a lifetime,” he said.
If Findlay chooses to run in the riding, she would face former NDP MLA and agriculture and food minister Pam Alexis. Alexis was elected in the 2020 election before losing to Gasper in 2024 by about 2,600 votes.
OneBC Leader Dallas Brodie said in a post on X on Saturday that her party does not intend to run a candidate despite support she said they have in the Fraser Valley.
“I do not believe it would be ethical to run in a race to try and block a major party leader from getting into the legislature to lead her caucus,” she wrote.
Brodie called on CentreBC and the likely party led by Milobar and Paton to not run candidates, either under their banners or as independents.
Findlay thanked Brodie for her stance and said it would send a message to the B.C. NDP. She did not confirm in the post if she will be running.
Milobar, along with fellow defector Ian Paton, have said they plan to start a new party after leaving Findlay’s caucus. In an interview Saturday, Milobar said they are still working with Elections BC on the process to become official.
He said both he and Paton want their party to be credible and that people “will want to see more meat on the bone of the party that we’re setting up.”
“If it was three months down the road, I’m fully confident we’d be well equipped to put a good effort in and have a credible candidate and be a force, but we’re not in that situation,” he said.
“We’re five days post announcement (of plans for the new party) and the byelection has been called.”
—with files from Global News’ Amy Judd and The Canadian Press
Conservative Conservative Conservative, you people have to pull it together. Separatists, Reformers, Pro-American, Pro Big Business, anti abortionists. What are you any more ? Guys like PP and Sheer never worked at anything but career politicians. And who do you represent anymore. You want to do away with our national healthcare system and have a US type system (that is your main money sponsor) So please tell us what you really really stand for???
“Anonymous
August 31, 2026 at 11:55 am
The media should be going after the political parties equally not favoring the NDP. @Rustad there is only one goof that is you.”
The media in Canada posts reality not fabricated far-right bullshlt. If you want that go to an Alberta separatist Facebook page or TruthSocial. You’ll find a lot of hate speech and fabricated “Truth” there
The media should be going after the political parties equally not favoring the NDP. @Rustad there is only one goof that is you.
“Yeah
August 30, 2026 at 10:44 am
I see Sonny D is a bigot.
Yeah
August 30, 2026 at 10:43 am
BC needs to be invaded by Alberta on day 2 of their independence.”
Hahahaha look at the NAZl Alberta separatist making threats and then playing victim. What a f**king loser
71, if she becomes the premier, she will be 74, the whole problem with politics is that any of the good younger minds don’t want the pay cut, we need more younger swart people instead of going to the old folks home for rehashed politicians, YOUNGER PEOPLE NEED TO VOTE.
@Connor: Maybe they are Canadians who are sick of her corruption already.
@A: All these people quit and you want the media to be blind?
Phuck off goof.
Why does the media not go after the NDP for there miss management of 1.5 billion dollar budget error.
You do not see the media going after the NDP like that . Pathetic!
Cons once again blaming others – including but not limited to the media etc – for their party’s own failures. Pathetic!
There was no wrong doing and it does not provide any negative implication. The MLA’s that left are weak kneed traitors. They were elected as conservatives. The same goes for any others considering leaving, they are nothing but traitors.
Blaming the media for the conservative party’s failures is a lame excuse. Your party keeps losing support because of its leadership, policies and inane messenging.
We need a trusted ,honest news media not Global so bias.
Hey Global “News” nice propaganda now hold the commie NDP to account.
@Jay. Change the conservative leader, and if they get their act together and moderate some policies, I’d vote for them. Don’t blame voters for a conservative failure.
Wow! The conservatives went from almost nobody party until a BC Liberal with a beef with his Liberal leader left the BC Liberals, took the conservative party to an almost majority, absorbed the Liberal party itself, then ousted the ex-liberal who made them relevant again and now are imploding as party member after party member leave over their previous and current leader’s leadership. They ran on a ‘Freedom of Speech’ platform and when individual members started to speak their ‘Freedoms’, the infighting started.
They always do that. Offer a plum job for someone to give up their seat. The only difference here is that she was caught saying it out loud. If the Conservatives don’t get their act together soon, the NDP will complete the job of ruining this province.
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Well, one thing for sure, this Province need change. But, British Columbians don’t have the ability to change their personal, social or environmental behaviours. They’ll just let politics and corruption ramped complaining all the way ..
she is 71, she forgets things, Just like when Rustad was reconfirmed as leader and resigned she will as well, there is a pattern developing here and that is conservitives have no clue on how to run there own house, little own run a country or province, they just dont have the correct people for this
I see Sonny D is a bigot.
BC needs to be invaded by Alberta on day 2 of their independence.
Well if a few more leave the Party, that whole group could call themselves anything and be official opposition!
I’m thinking if I were her I’d throw my hands up and walk away. I’d say something like “I had a dream that I could turn things around and restore trust and understanding in politics , but I was wrong “. But she’s not me so I guess we will find out Monday !
I was all for her right up until her acceptance speech and the use of her words. “We cry out for god” Ya, Well ya lost me there
This is an embarrassing train wreck….these people are using up our good oxygen ! One who flew over the cuckoos nest!!! Or rather ALL conservatives who fly over the cuckoo nest!! Go home already!!!
“It is illegal under the Criminal Code to negotiate a reward or benefit related to resignation from political office”
Then why isn’t Carney in jail. He literally bribed his way to a majority. And the MLA’s who “crossed the floor” did WORSE that quit – they betrayed their constituents.
But I thought she’s a shoe in to be the next premier of BC? LOL yeah right. She’s even more of a joke than NAZl Dallas Brodie. If that’s even possible…
BC cons falling as fast as they risen i guess
She needs to quit as leader let someone else take over
@Iona Truc. Your comments are so boringly predictable, like Trump’s truth social posts.
A picture speaks a thousand words. What a skank!
@Iona Truc – it’s because you are a known liar and conspiracy theorist. Literally no one at all cares what you think.
In regards to this article: the former BC CON leader said “politicians have expiry dates”. Sure looks like KLF and Paperboy Pete have reached theirs. Now hopefully Marlaina, Scootch Moe and Drug Fraud reach theirs this term as well.
Global won’t let us comment on the home invasion of a 73 year old woman who was stabbed and died story. Some sing must be involved again.