Tuesday September 22, 2026 | VANCOUVER, BC [Posted 10 pm PT]
Editorial political analysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
This afternoon, Lorne Doerkson — a brand new leader of the BC Conservatives — addressed media in Vancouver on this first day of the snap provincial election.
He was joined by several members of the BC Conservative caucus including Peter Milobar (who temporarily tried starting a separate party, then shifted to CentreBC and now back to the BC Conservatives); caucus whip Bruce Banman (representing Abbotsford South ); as well as recent BC Conservative leadership contender Caroline Elliott.
Seven of the eight MLAs that had drifted to CentreBC are now back under the BC Conservative banner.
MLA Elenore Sturko has decided not to join this newest rendition of the BC Conservative Party, saying to reporters today that the ‘new’ BC Conservatives are essentially more of the same.
Though many British Columbians probably haven’t heard of the Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA (first elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024), Lorne Doerkson delivered his remarks with ease and answered media questions like a premier-in-waiting.
“This election is your chance to have your voice heard, on a very clear choice in front of us,” said Premier David Eby today – setting up a contrast between what the NDP has achieved as government over the last nine years, compared to the challenges and “pale” approach of the BC Conservatives when it comes to managing the economy.
Doerkson contributed to debates in the BC Legislature but there isn’t much that the NDP might push back on in campaign-mode. But Doerkson said in his remarks to media tonight that the BC Conservatives will “push forward against 10 years of NDP mismanagement in this province”.
Doerkson said that voters need “a viable alternative to the NDP chaos”. Fair enough to offer an alternative, but the NDP government has not been “chaotic” as Doerskon claimed today. It’s the BC Conservatives who’ve been chaotic through their long series of iterations: BC Liberal > BC United > BC Conservative > many sitting as independents, some starting OneBC and others starting CentreBC / now back to BC Conservative.
This is so much for voters to sort out, and many won’t have the time, energy or interest given the challenges faced by households, families and small businesses in this time of start unaffordability.
“They have blown through the John Horgan surplus in a remarkably short time,” said Doerkson about the NDP. Eby became premier near the end of 2022 when Horgan stepped back due to health challenges. To be fair, it was many of the Horgan “people first” initiatives that contributed to a mindset of a range of social supports and project investments that of course needed revenues to match. It was Horgan who was quite pleased with getting LNG Canada rolling as a way to provide revenues to BC over the long term; Eby has been guiding LNG Phase 2 (final investment decision expected before year-end 2026) for the same reason. A number of costly severe wildfire seasons were of course unpredictable.
The NDP’s Look West strategy (developed largely by cabinet minister Ravi Kahlon – who is now not seeking re-election) did provide an identified approach to deepening all the aspects of bolstering the economy (including trades training for the rebuilding that any government will need to do). So this is where voters need to be informed and pay attention, because the BC Conservatives leader today said that “we need a government that is strong, united, and willing to fight for our province”. When has the NDP government not been doing that?
Peter Milobar addressed media this afternoon. He thanked Doerkson for “stepping up”. HE said the BC Conservatives are “progressive and conservative values party”.
“We have worked very hard to put this coalition together over the last couple of days,” said Doerkson, highlighting late nights and wee hours. That pales against the long-standing and deep organizational networks and campaign ground game that the BC NDP is well known for.