To say the B.C. Conservatives are navigating some rough waters right now would be an understatement.
Earlier today (Monday), Chilliwack-Cultus Lake MLA Áʼa꞉líya Warbus became the seventh MLA to quit the party over discontent with Kerry-Lynne Findlay and will sit as an independent.
However, Prince George-North Cariboo representative Sheldon Clare believes this is the same party his now departed teammates ran on and is chalking up the exodus to sour grapes following the provincial Tories leadership race.
“Politics is a temporary thing and anybody who runs is the temporary holder of that office and its a great privilege to be in one of these roles. When your side is in an internal race and doesn’t win, it’s up to you to get onside and support the leader.”
“It’s very disrespectful of the party membership and all of the people who got out and voted and supported her to sit there and say I am not happy and I am getting out. I think these people are being disingenuous, and I think someone needs to ask these people what is it that they disagree with because I think that their reasons for departing are rather thin.”
Clare is disputing the notion the party is fractured, suggesting the Conservatives will come back leaner and more focused to take another run at David Eby’s NDP government.
“I think what we are actually seeing here is some people who don’t accept the outcome of the leadership race, which Kerry-Lynne Findlay won in terms of the popular vote, she won it on a transferable ballot and in first past the post – she won in every round of voting.”
Prior to Warbus, six other former Conservative MLAs elected to jump ship, including Prince George-Valemount representative Rosalyn Bird.
Also leaving were Peter Milobar, Ian Paton, Teresa Wat, Brennan Day and Bruce Banman.
All cited frustrations with Findlay and the direction she had taken to the party since winning the leadership in May.
Banman went as far to say that Findlay is “unelectable.”
Again, Clare is going to bat for Findlay despite the mounting level of criticism that has landed on her doorstep.
“I think if you started to ask the ones that have left, the thing to ask of them is what policies have changed? What leadership decisions has Kerry-Lynne Findlay made? I haven’t see any changes in policy, I haven’t seen any changes in direction. There certainly have been some adjustments made but most people were given back their critic roles they had before.”
Clare currently serves as the House Leader for the provincial Tories.
The fall session of the legislature kicks off October 5th.
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