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VICTORIA — The caucus woes for B.C. Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay continue after a member called her out in a 1,000-word online essay, saying she wouldn’t “tolerate” Findlay’s leadership unless it changed.
The lengthy critique from Claire Rattée on Wednesday said the Opposition remained “deeply divided” after nine recent defections that have reduced the party caucus to 28 members.
Of those, 13 provided a declaration of support for Findlay when asked by The Canadian Press whether they would do so, and if they intended to remain in the caucus.
The questions were sent by email to both the legislative and party accounts of all 28 legislators, last Friday and again on Monday. Party whip Macklin McCall was also asked to encourage MLAs to respond.
The 13 who responded — all saying they backed Findlay and would remain in the caucus — were McCall, Sheldon Clare, Pete Davis, Gavin Dew, Lorne Doerkson, Sharon Hartwell, Anna Kindy, Steve Kooner, Kristina Loewen, Lawrence Mok, Bryan Tepper, Jody Toor and David Williams.
Williams said it would be “disingenuous” to cross the floor.
“Our Conservative leadership election was a democratic process, and Kerry-Lynne won the majority support of the party membership,” he said.
“I respect that decision and believe I have a responsibility to support our leader.”
He said she had demonstrated her ability to be “a strong leader … willing to listen, learn, and adapt.”
Dew said Findlay deserved a “fair shot” at succeeding with the broader electorate. The party has “had a tough few months, but as always the goal must be to build the coalition, defeat the NDP, and get BC back on track,” he added.
Doerkson cautioned about making “assumptions from responses and ‘non-responses,'” but added that he would be “supporting our leader through this byelection and will be doing everything I can to support our Conservative Party of B.C. to retain the Abbotsford-Mission riding.”
Findlay faces voters in the Abbotsford-Mission byelection on Sept. 26.
Those who did not respond included Findlay’s husband Brent Chapman, as well as interim leader Heather Maahs and Misty Van Popta, who have both recently signalled support for Findlay elsewhere.
Mandeep Dhaliwal posted on X last week that he was “proud to stand” with Findlay.
Also among the non-respondents were former leader John Rustad, former interim leader Trevor Halford, Harman Bhangu, Lynne Block, Kyle Giddens, Korky Neufeld, Linda Hepner, Tony Luck, Ward Stamer, Larry Neufeld and Rattée
But Rattée sent her own sort of answer in her Substack post on Wednesday.
She said Findlay was “expected to quickly bring the team together” after her May 30 leadership win, but “that bargain has not been fulfilled, and without immediate course correction I fear it never will be.”
“She has now called several caucus meetings and either left after making a speech or not attended at all (including one today). That is unacceptable,” said Rattée, the MLA for Skeena who is also critic for mental health and addictions.
Rattée said the Conservatives were losing public trust.
“One or two MLAs leaving after a leadership race could be excused, but nine is a different matter entirely,” she wrote.
The defectors have faulted Findlay for her strategies and the direction of the party, with Bruce Banman saying people around her had created a “purity test” of whether MLAs are “hard right enough.”
Seven, including Banman, have said they will join a new party with Peter Milobar as interim leader.
Rattée said Findlay should have tried to mend fences in the party after her “narrow victory” against Caroline Elliott on the fourth ballot of the leadership race.
“Today, at a minimum, she should be making personal calls to make sure the situation doesn’t get any worse,” she said.
But that was not happening, Rattée said, while also faulting Findlay for seeking a place in the legislature too quickly.
“She could have spent more time solidifying and building the team before moving for a seat but chose not to. Now she must do both at the same time, no excuses.”
Rattée stopped short of quitting the caucus and said she would remain a Conservative MLA.
“I worked hard to build this party and I have spent (eight) years building this movement provincially and federally,” she said. “I will continue to do so and fight for the people of my riding.”
Rattée’s office said in a statement that she did not have any further comments, adding that media would be alerted if she had more to say.
Spokespersons for Findlay did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Rattée’s post.
Findlay is a former MP and minister in the federal Conservative government of Stephen Harper, serving as parliamentary secretary for justice, an associate minister of defence and minister of national revenue.
Rattée was first elected to the B.C. legislature in 2024.
On Wednesday, B.C. Premier David Eby said he had told his legislators that they need to be “election ready,” amid disruption posed by the trade war with the United States.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2026
Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press
