Thursday March 19, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The number of contestants who are running for the leadership of the BC Conservative Party is now seven, down from most recently nine.
Two MLAs who came in the race a bit later than others — Bruce Banman and Harman Bhangu — have this week dropped out.
That leaves Peter Milobar as the only sitting MLA (and cyrrently the Official Opposition’s finance critic) in the race which could be seen as a strategic party caucus move to not have currently-elected MLAs competing against one another.
Now the contestants in the race that continues for another two-and-a-half months are: Iain Black, Caroline Elliott, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Yuri Fulmer, Warren Hamm, Darrell Jones, and Peter Milobar.
These remaining candidates must pay $40,000 by April 1, then another $60,000 on or before April 18, to remain in the race.
BC Conservative Party members who are registered by April 18 may vote for the new leader starting May 9 (with a weighted electoral district process), with a final announcement on May 30 (the winner must receive more than 50% of the vote, as there will be candidate eliminations in every round of voting).
Quick updates on the candidates:
All of the candidates are based in the Greater Vancouver or mainland regions. None are based out of Vancouver Island.
- Peter Milobar is the only current MLA still in the race. Milobar has been the BC Conservative (and before that BC Liberal) finance critic in the official opposition for several years. As such, Milobar says in social media that he has the experience to lead the Conservative caucus “to victory from day one” and feels this is good timing for the BC Conservatives to become the next government.
- Yari Fulmer presents his strength as a creative entrepreneur. Fulmer now sees endorsement from MLA and former contestant Bruce Banman (une of the last to enter the race) who says Fulmer has a “proven track record” in the private sector and would know how to kick-start the economy. As posted in social media on March 18, Fulmer says that ‘virtue signalling’ must be kept out of classrooms (he has proposed a Freedom Charter that would ‘ban compelled speech, secure parental rights, and guarantee religious freedoms) and challenges fellow contestant Ellliott for her stance in 2024 on safe supply of drugs.
- Darrell Jones has perhaps the highest public profile for having been the top executive at Save-On-Foods for many years. It’s unclear how that will translate into votes from among party members. [News article Jan 28, 2026]
- Iain Black is a former BC Liberal cabinet minister (in the Gordon Campbell government). Much of what was delivered by BC Liberals in that time period was what BC NDP railed against and won to form government in 2017. [News article Jan 24, 2026]
- Caroline Elliot has received former contestant MLA Harman Bhangu’s backing, says Elliott has an approach of ‘common sense’ in schools, prosperity for working families and respect for private property. Elliot hails from a background of working with BC Hydro and performing as a political commentator. Elliott says is social media today: “The NDP is putting your private property at risk. When I’m Premier, I will repeal DRIPA and bring back the certainty families, workers, and businesses need.” She wants greater control of immigration in BC’s favour.
- Kerry-Lynne Findlay is a former federal member of parliament. Her politics tend to lean farther right than most of the other candidates. Today in social media she has reposted federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s current post about being a featured guest of US podcaster Joe Rogan this week.
- Warren Hamm is a contractor who this week posted in social media: “British Columbia needs real leadership, not more politics as usual. Less bureaucracy. More building. More opportunity.” and “Small businesses brings in community! From housing to tourism, we thrive together when we are unrestricted to build the things we need to build!”
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