Kerry-Lynne Findlay loses two more MLAs and fires operations director as horror week continues for B.C. Conservatives

Article content

“At the time though, I was travelling with family and I attempted to put the matter behind me. I had a brief conversation thereafter with the leader who did not apologize and wanted to focus on what’s before us. I decided to try to move on.”

Article content

She said that when she returned home, she “realized that these allegations had caused real damage to my reputation” and that her supporters were “shocked” an apology had not been issued.

Article content

After a conversation with Findlay and her chief of staff Chris Delaney earlier this week, Wat said she was told a public apology and clarification would be coming, but, so far, that has not happened.

Article content

“I cannot continue to sit in a caucus led by someone who has questioned my loyalty without evidence and, when given the opportunity to correct the record, has failed to do so,” she said.

Article content

“I firmly believe we need an alternative to the NDP that is trying to grow and not one trying to divide. That is not the direction of the B.C. Conservatives under Kerry-Lynne Findlay.”

Article content

Article content

Article content

Findlay disputed Wat’s version of events, saying in a statement that she had apologized to Wat in private and the pair agreed to move forward.

Article content

“On July 29, I reached MLA Wat in Taipei and had a private conversation during which I apologized to her directly and we discussed how to move forward,” said Findlay.

Article content

“Following that, MLA Wat and I both released public statements addressing the matter. I appreciated MLA Wat’s positive comments at the time about my leadership and she appreciated my praise for her work as an MLA.”

Article content

Findlay said Wat later asked for a second apology almost a month later and that she “was prepared to publicly address the matter in good faith.” However, Wat’s resignation was made without any warning.

Article content

B.C. Conservative leader Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay leads a press conference at The Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront in Vancouver, August 25, 2026. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

Article content

For Day, the final straw was seeing the type of people that Findlay had surrounded herself with.

Article content

He said he does not believe his party leader has the integrity required to lead the Conservatives forward.

Article content

“I was proud to carry the Conservative banner, I am definitely conservative, and the direction of the party was moving away from the intended outcome here, which was to hold the NDP to account and make sure that everybody in this province was aware that it was the worst government in British Columbia history, by far, and we lost sight of that,” said Day in an interview.

Article content

Article content

“At the end of the day, Kerry-Lynne Findlay is not electable in the province. I find her brand of Tea Party conservatism deeply distasteful, and I will no longer support that path for the Conservative Party, which is deeply unfortunate.”

Article content

He said he will sit as an Independent for now and will wait to see if a new centre-right party forms that he believes has the potential to defeat the NDP.

Article content

The Conservative leader did not respond to a request for comment on Day’s departure in time for deadline and on Chung’s firing. She only said that she had directed her chief of staff Chris Delaney to “terminate the Director of Operations for the B.C. Conservative Caucus, effective immediately.”

Article content