Interim B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson says while he doesn’t share the views expressed by the party’s candidate for Chilliwack North on LGBT issues or abortion, she will be allowed to run under the party’s banner. B.C. NDP candidate Spencer Chandra Herber issued a press release Friday, drawing attention to past comments made by B.C. Conservative candidate Heather Maahs in which she appeared to conflate homosexuality and pedophilia. In 2022, while speaking on a podcast, Maahs said of books in schools depicting same-sex relations: “It’s for sure grooming. It desensitizes kids. And it’s all under the name of LGBTQ because it’s boy on boy. And I’m talking ‘boy.’ Young boys.” “I don’t share that view, of course,” said Doerkson in an interview airing Sunday on CTV Question Period. “I am committed to making sure that people are treated with respect in this province, and certainly that we provide safe spaces for all of our children, our residents. That’s an absolute commitment from me.” “I think that the NDP, obviously, is digging up a number of things that have been canvassed from the past. I think that we have contemplated much since, and I think there have been, obviously, as I just indicated, robust conversations about these types of issues in our caucus room.” When pressed by host Vassy Kapelos about whether or not Maahs would remain a candidate under the B.C. Conservative banner, Doerksen responded: “Yes.” Maahs, an incumbent MLA, also hosted a reception at the B.C. legislature in 2025 for a group called the Association for Reformed Political Action, a Christian lobby group that believes homosexuality is immoral, abortion should be criminalized and conversion therapy bans should be reversed. “Conflating the gay community with pedophilia is deeply homophobic, and there should be no place for this kind of hate in a party that hopes to lead this province,” said B.C. NDP candidate Spencer Chandra Herbert in a statement. “The B.C. Conservatives have tolerated this for years, but Lorne Doerkson could change that. It’s not nearly enough for Lorne Doerkson to say he supports rainbows or same sex marriage. He should send a clear message and fire Heather Maahs immediately.” Parties have until Saturday at 1 p.m. PT to remove and replace candidates. You can watch interim B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson’s full interview on CTV Question Period Sunday at 11 a.m. ET.
