BC Conservative Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson has started sketching out a series of goals for his first 100 days in office, and the scale of challenges facing the new government is starting to come into focus.
Among the first orders of business is to secure his own leadership on paper, as Doerkson is still technically the interim leader of the party.
“I’m leader and that’s an administrative detail and there will be more information on that imminently,” Doerkson said on Sunday.
He also needs to choose a cabinet, with health and finance being the biggest portfolios, and determine when the legislature will resume.
“I don’t want to rule out a fall session,” Doerkson said.
“I think it’s important to keep that option available and open to us. Of course, we have much to do before we can get there to make that decision.”
Doerkson also announced on Sunday that his government will launch an independent review of the province’s finances.
David Eby inherited a $6 billion surplus from John Horgan, but the current deficit is projected at $14 billion.
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“We need to see a credible path back to a balanced budget,” Bridgitte Anderson, president and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade said.
“And so that is going to take time, but we’re really hoping to further understand from the Conservative government what that timeline looks like.”
Hamish Telford, a political science professor at the University of the Fraser Valley, said that Doerkson does have some challenges ahead of him, including addressing B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).
“Through the leadership campaign last year, they all wanted to repeal DRIPA, all the candidates,” he said.
“That was an article of faith during the campaign, and he reiterated that on Saturday night. And we know that First Nations in this province are totally opposed to that, and so there’s going to be a confrontation ahead of us if they do indeed go forward with it.”
On Monday, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, said, “We’re not going to stand idly by while the government-elect does, in fact, rip it up.
“That’s a declaration of war.”
The road ahead for the BC NDP is also unknown.
They have to find an interim leader, but it is not clear when, or who, that will be.
“These are very early days and the NDP does not have to be in a rush,” Telford said.
“They’ve got some veterans there to sort of guide them through this, but certainly there are people like Niki Sharma and Bowinn Ma that are going to be in the caucus who I think would be early frontrunners.
“Ravi Kahlon did not contest this election, but he’s long been thought to be interested in leadership. And there may be others out there who were not elected this time around or have not been at the provincial level, coming out of the municipal level. So the NDP really should give itself time. They’ve got four years here to choose the right person.”
It has been a dumping ground….with nothing but mental health issues from Alberta. We agree on something.!
BC is canada’s DUMPING GROUND for trash, druggies, welfare bums!
+1 Niki Sharma she’s a racist!
So glad we won’t be seeing that guy’s face anymore. Alberta is ok, just not the Calgary Flames!
BC Rez!! 😂
They can call govt back into session any time. So what specifically are you talking about?
Do you really think that with a super majority and with most of the right wing clowns gone the rest of party is going to decide to self destruct?
You are clueless! 🙄
I see you in four month!
@ doug…..the leader can’t even start his job. He’s not even supposed to be on the ” job site”. That’s even less than 4 months. Once he’s gone….Trevor or the 3 girls? Wow. You’re right back to where you were lost and confused where the sun goes at night when you through Rustad under the bus. If this was the real world you guys couldn’t hang a sheet of drywall.
@ Alberta….we know BC Conservatives are your cousins. That’s the problem. You guys weren’t miserable enough so you had to move here to drag us down to your level!
The original people of Canada need to be consulted not directed. I feel sad about the language used. Cooperation is always the way. Getting a mandate to lead doesn’t give you a mandate to be the leader. Consult and learn, then help if you can.
BC conservatives are my brothers and sisters, NDP voters are GARBAGE!
BC residumb, you are the weakest link, GOODBYE! Hahaha hahaha 🤣
At BC Resident.
“ won’t even last 4 months”
I will remind you said that. 4 months??? Deal!
Clown
repeal dripa
You clowns won’t even last 4 months let alone 4 yrs!
Poor Emily the green one. She is so afraid now. Maybe go back to your mom’s basement and crawl back under your bed.
Aww poor Bc resident. May that hate for Alberta sustain you over these next four long years.
At Carney,
“ the activists like the greens will continue to stagnate the economy just as they have for five decades ” Yeas and no. It’s now just as much the FNs as it is the greens. In fact last decade or so it’s been more the FNs and the greens.
It’s time actually democracy was returned to decision making in BC.
Learn from Alberta?! From Danielle? Complete sellout?! Oh yeah that’s right…you are all the same!
Where’s 1940s Germany when you need it?
BC residumb, no more Eby weiner to suck?
Learn from Alberta you BC TURDS, don’t be DUMB forever, I know you can’t help it
No more handouts to fn bums
It’s been 3 days people. I still see the homeless. Groceries are still high. I thought this was so easy to fix?, ain’t gonna change the activists like the greens will continue to stagnate the economy just as they have for five decades.
Instead of removing dripa we need to remove the hayseed Albertans!
global bc supports ndp
It’s been 3 days people. I still see the homeless. Groceries are still high. I thought this was so easy to fix?! Flip a switch. Eby is a moron but us Conservatives have all the answers! Okay people let’s see the homeless off the streets ASAP. Crime gone ASAP. Groceries cheaper now.! You guys just yap out of your butt.
Lorne is your messiah people. He’s the 3rd to have the job and get the boot!! 3 leaders and all are gone. Now you have to pick from the barrel of completely rotten apples!! Good luck with that?! 3 to 5 weeks before this derails.
How did the last “war” go?
Lorne shouldn’t wait until spring to repeal DRIPA. Make them protest in the rain, cold and snow.
Beside when it’s cold being slammed on the ground by the police for obstruction and violation of courts orders hurts more.
Yeah shut it Chief Grifter Chug this province is opting out of Dripa you want a war bring it ….saddle up the drunks in the delta 88 with broken windows and a few bows and arrows. We can finally finish the job
War? 😂 The AFN needs a lesson and I hope they are going to get it. They need to understand that they were not elected by the taxpayers to involve themselves in the affairs of this province.
And yes I hope they do blockade and protest. It will do for them what it did for the climate clowns when they blocked bridges. It will drive away what little support they had left, create more division and just make even more people angry at them. You can add in some jail sentences and criminal records. Good luck getting what you want then!
Well Grand Chief what about every else’s wishes? You know the 900,000 who voted conservative?
Plus Six Months ago 90% of MLAs who actually “do” represent the electorate wanted DRIPA to be amended, suspended or repealed. Fact. Eby who represents all BC was the initiator of the amendments and suspension. The Public Land Use Society, PLUS, is putting out poll numbers of 66%, 75% and 86% that represent the opinion of those surveyed wanting the decision making powers fully back-with elected officials.
Angus Reid polls had 47% of British Columbians support repealing DRIPA outright.53% feel DRIPA goes too far in limiting provincial authority, a rise from 44% in August 2025. Only 30% view the act as a necessary step toward reconciliation, dropping from previous years. 26% of past BC NDP voters surprisingly support scrapping the law.
Better prepare for war according to the indians. No worries, Im prepared. About time!
I agree with “no more gravy” ! Tear up all benefits for Natives & force them to work the same as White Folks!!
I stand with the First Nations. If Dorkson rips up DRIPA, I hope the FNs blockade the railways, roads, and ports. I will join them on the blockade along with thousands of British Columbians.
Conservatives equate to more for the rich and less for the needy, pretty simple and proven. Many will suffer for this. Come on in Trump, we are for sale now.
Thank god he got in. He’s exactly right dripa killing the province.
Niki Sharma has a history of racist comments..
At Ben,
It was 48 against to 2. Not the narrative the FN like. Then we began posting details and stats that the FNs didn’t want better known so “”someone”” called it in.
I’ll repost it all tomorrow.
No more gravy @10:56 pm.
You have my vote.
Repeal DRIPA.
Treat everyone the same.
No more Indian Act.
No more reserves.
No more land claims.
No more multi-generational welfare entitlement.
No more tyranny of low expectations
No more Gladue Principle
Treat everyone the same
Let’s see if the Cons can cloud the waters even more by denying his “leadership” and putting someone else in the premiere seat. Backstabbing is an important part of their party playbook.
Day one repeal Dripa and remove Sogi both top Priority.
When you have an elite group of people who we cannot vote for, We have a defacto dictatorship where nothing happens without $$$$. After grand chief Stewart’s comments. I feel I have to say I choose to rip up DRIPA.
I propose a trade. A brand new f150, chunky soup, BBQ lays chips, twisted teas and luckys
DRIPA needs to go byebye! Enough of this favoritism to natives. They have done NOTHING with ANYTHING the government has given them to help themselves out of the lifestyle they live. This game has grown tired.
Seems the censors at global didnt like the comments on the article “ B.C. First Nations chief warns ripping up DRIPA is a ‘declaration of war’”.
Odd when they let one user call people “inbred white trash” while another uses slurs towards native people with impunity.
Haha
The previous article posting was so anti DRIPA and factual they had to shut it down.
There was like 50 anti DRIPA posts and like 1 or 2 for it. Hahaha
To say there will be a declaration of war if DRIPA is repealed. Says me, There will be a massive confrontation if the Conservatives don’t respect the voters
Let’s carry on with this Headline
“ B.C. First Nations chief warns ripping up DRIPA is a ‘declaration of war’”
If the Indians are opposed to repealing DRIPA that would be prima facia evidence that the Conservatives are on the right track. The only path to “reconciliation” is to repeal DRIPA and abolish the Indian Act. We are all Canadians or we clearly don’t have any status in this country.
Prime Minister Mark Carney says he will instruct his ministers to work with First Nations to move Canada beyond the Indian Act — which he said could mean reforming it or abolishing it altogether.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with First Nations chiefs and premiers in Ottawa today, Carney said the elimination of the Indian Act has been sought by many First Nations leaders, including Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew
They should repeal DRIPA right away, Hamish Telford is long time NDP Nerd.