They have proven they can win votes. Kerry-Lynne Findlay now has to prove they can govern.

By Chad Dashly | The Current

There is an uncomfortable conversation conservatives in British Columbia need to have.

The BC Conservatives are not ready for primetime.

That doesn’t mean British Columbia doesn’t need a conservative government. Quite the opposite.

Conservatives believe in fiscal discipline, personal responsibility, free enterprise, public safety and governments that respect the taxpayers who ultimately pay the bills.

British Columbia desperately needs a credible alternative capable of advancing those principles.

But wanting a Conservative government and believing the current Conservative Party is ready to govern are two very different things.

And conservatives shouldn’t be afraid to say so.

Give Them Credit

Let’s start by acknowledging what the BC Conservatives have accomplished.

Their rise has been remarkable.

In an extraordinarily short period, they went from the political wilderness to the Official Opposition and came within striking distance of forming government in 2024.

They have also built a serious fundraising operation.

According to Elections BC, the Conservatives raised more than $1.08 million in the first quarter of 2026 and another $1.146 million in the second quarter.

Those aren’t insignificant numbers.

This is no longer a fringe political organization.

It is a major provincial political party with a large grassroots constituency and a legitimate opportunity to form the next government.

But that is exactly why the standard must now be higher.

The Findlay Era Begins

Kerry-Lynne Findlay inherited both an enormous opportunity and an enormous challenge when she won the Conservative leadership on May 30.

And it was hardly an overwhelming mandate.

Findlay defeated Caroline Elliott 51 per cent to 49 per cent on the fourth ballot.

That tells us something important.

The party remains a coalition of different conservative factions, personalities and political traditions.

Findlay’s first responsibility isn’t simply defeating David Eby.

It is demonstrating that she can turn that coalition into a disciplined political organization capable of governing British Columbia.

That means moving beyond the insurgent politics that helped build the party.

It means becoming professional.

Predictable.

Disciplined.

And boring when necessary.

Because governing is frequently boring.

The Revolving Door Has to Stop

The recent changes at the top of the party organization demonstrate just how much rebuilding remains.

In August, party president Aisha Estey and vice-president Sharon White were replaced, with Mauro Francis becoming president and Pavneet Singh taking over as vice-president.

Perhaps those changes will ultimately strengthen the organization.

But they also continue a pattern of transition that has surrounded the Conservatives since their explosive rise.

Leadership changes.

Caucus changes.

Organizational changes.

Internal disputes.

Personnel controversies.

At some point, the rebuilding has to end and the governing preparation has to begin.

British Columbians aren’t electing a political start-up.

They are choosing a potential government.

Candidate Vetting Must Improve

This is another area where conservatives should demand higher standards.

Candidate vetting isn’t glamorous.

But it may be one of the most important responsibilities of a political party.

When you nominate someone to run for the legislature, you aren’t simply finding somebody to put their name on a lawn sign.

You are potentially selecting a future MLA.

Perhaps a parliamentary secretary.

Perhaps a cabinet minister.

Perhaps someone responsible for billions of dollars in public spending.

The standard therefore has to be substantially higher than finding people who agree with the party.

A government-in-waiting needs candidates with judgment, experience, credibility and the ability to withstand serious public scrutiny.

The next BC Conservative candidate class should be vetted accordingly.

Where Is the Governing Blueprint?

This may be the biggest issue of all.

What exactly would a BC Conservative government do?

Not philosophically.

Specifically.

If spending is too high, what gets cut?

If taxes are too high, which ones are reduced first?

If regulations are preventing investment, which regulations change?

If health care is broken, what structural reforms happen in the first 100 days?

If crime and addiction policies aren’t working, what replaces them?

If British Columbia wants more mining, forestry, LNG and energy development, what approvals change and how quickly?

How does the province reconcile resource development with Indigenous rights and consultation?

How does a Conservative government accelerate housing construction?

How quickly can the budget realistically return to balance?

These questions require more than slogans.

They require numbers.

Timelines.

Legislation.

Implementation plans.

And people capable of executing them.

That work should already be underway.

Opposition Is Easy

There is another political reality conservatives should understand.

Opposition is easy compared with government.

It is relatively easy to stand in Question Period and identify something that isn’t working.

It is much harder to fix it.

“Cut waste” sounds great.

What waste?

Which department?

Which program?

How much?

How quickly?

What happens to the people currently receiving the service?

“Reduce red tape.”

Excellent.

Which regulations?

“Fix health care.”

How?

“Build more housing.”

Where?

“Develop our natural resources.”

On what timeline?

That is where political rhetoric collides with governing reality.

A serious government-in-waiting has answers to those questions before the election begins.

Build the Cabinet Before You Need One

Findlay should also be thinking about something political parties often leave far too late:

Who actually governs?

The Conservatives should already be identifying potential cabinet talent — both inside and outside their existing caucus.

Finance.

Health.

Attorney General.

Energy and Mines.

Forests.

Housing.

Transportation.

Education.

Indigenous Relations.

Economic Development.

These aren’t communications positions.

They are enormous management responsibilities.

The party should be actively recruiting accomplished British Columbians from business, law, health care, academia, local government, First Nations and the resource sector.

The objective shouldn’t simply be winning 47 seats.

It should be assembling 47 people capable of governing.

There is a difference.

Conservatives Should Demand More From Conservatives

Some Conservatives will inevitably consider this criticism disloyal.

It isn’t.

Quite the opposite.

If conservatives believe in accountability, then accountability has to begin at home.

If we expect businesses to operate professionally, our political organizations should operate professionally.

If we demand fiscal discipline from government, we should demand organizational discipline from the party seeking to replace it.

And if conservatives criticize governments for incompetence, we cannot excuse incompetence simply because the people involved happen to wear our team’s jersey.

Conservatives should expect more from Conservatives.

Findlay Has an Opportunity

There is good news in all of this.

These problems are fixable.

Findlay has political and government experience.

The Conservatives have money.

They have MLAs.

They have members.

They have volunteers.

They have an energized political base.

And most importantly, they have time.

Their fundraising numbers suggest there is substantial appetite for what they are selling.

The question is whether the organization can mature quickly enough to deliver it.

Findlay now has an opportunity to professionalize the party, strengthen candidate vetting, recruit serious talent, develop detailed policy and turn an insurgent movement into a government-in-waiting.

That should be the mission between now and the next provincial election.

The Primetime Test

The BC Conservatives have already proven they can win votes.

They have proven they can raise money.

They have proven they can build a movement.

Now comes the difficult part.

They have to prove they can govern.

British Columbians aren’t simply choosing someone to fight David Eby.

They are choosing the people who could soon be responsible for hospitals, schools, highways, courts, policing, housing, natural resources and tens of billions of dollars of public money.

That requires something more than opposition.

It requires competence.

Discipline.

Professionalism.

And a credible plan.

British Columbia needs a strong conservative alternative.

Kerry-Lynne Findlay now has an opportunity to build one.

But until the BC Conservatives demonstrate that transformation, conservatives shouldn’t be afraid to acknowledge the uncomfortable truth:

They are not ready for primetime.

Atleast.  Not yet.

Former Mayor Criticizes Party’s Shift to Far Right

Randy Hawes announced on social media Monday, Aug. 24, that he has stepped down as president of the Abbotsford-Mission riding association and departed the Conservative Party of B.C. His resignation comes as party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay seeks to run for the seat. Hawes, a former Mission mayor and BC Liberal MLA, stated that Findlay represents “a huge step to the far right,” adding that her political direction is not what the province needs or wants.

Surprise Resignation of Sitting MLA Prompts Concerns

Hawes had served as riding association president since Gasper was elected, helping recruit new members and fundraise. However, Gasper recently stepped down as MLA to make way for Findlay, taking a new role as Findlay’s deputy chief of staff. Hawes said he received no advance notice of Gasper’s departure, learning about it entirely through news reports and social media. He criticized the move, arguing that an Abbotsford-Mission byelection is an unnecessary expense and suggesting Findlay should have instead asked her husband, Surrey South MLA Brent Chapman, to vacate his seat.

Broader Party Departures and Political Uncertainty

Reflecting on the party’s direction since Findlay became leader in May, Hawes expressed disappointment, noting he had hoped the party would remain centre-right rather than adopting what he described as a “MAGA-style right where you hate people.” He indicated he intends to work against Findlay’s candidacy while hoping a centrist alternative emerges. The departure follows other recent exits within the party, including party president Aisha Estey, vice-president Sharon White, and MLAs Ian Paton and Peter Milobar. In a Tuesday press conference in Vancouver, Findlay acknowledged the instability, telling reporters, “There may even be others that leave our caucus; I don’t know.” The Conservative Party of B.C. was not contacted for comment.

Focusing on Wildfire Prevention Over Suppression

British Columbia currently spends about nine times more money reacting to and fighting wildfires than it does on preventing them, according to Kelowna-Mission MLA and B.C. Conservative Critic for Finance Gavin Dew. In severe fire years, emissions generated by Canadian wildfires can reach two to three times the total greenhouse gas emissions produced by all human and industrial activity in Canada combined.

Highlighting recent Angus Reid Institute polling, Dew noted that wildfire concerns transcend individual beliefs regarding climate change. The survey reveals that 84 per cent of British Columbians view climate change as a fact, while 58 per cent attribute it mostly to human actions. However, concern remains widespread across the board, with 80 per cent worried about smoke and air quality, 82 per cent concerned about property damage, and 87 per cent anxious about impacts on wildlife and natural areas.

Advocating Active Management and Technology

To address the ongoing threat, Dew is advocating for active forest management, including thinning, prescribed burning, fuel reduction, and strategic harvesting involving the forest industry. He emphasizes that government policy must move toward proactive stewardship rather than paying for disaster after it strikes.

Dew also highlights the role of modern technology in early fire detection and response, pointing to innovations such as artificial intelligence, predictive modelling, drones, sensors, and specialized cameras. He referenced a proposal from the Council of Canadian Innovators for a $100-million Wildfire Innovation Fund to support real-world testing, government procurement, and global export of B.C.-developed wildfire tools.

While B.C. recently allocated $1 million toward an AI project to project lightning strikes and wildfire risks, Dew argues that provincial ambition should be significantly larger to safeguard communities, reduce emissions, and support economic growth.