Embattled B.C. Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay has announced Reann Gasper—the MLA who recently resigned so Findlay could seek a seat in the legislature—will be her new chief of staff. The party confirmed the appointment, along with the resignation of Gasper’s predecessor Chris Delaney, in a brief media statement Wednesday. Gasper was made deputy chief of staff after stepping down in her Abbotsford-Mission riding on Aug. 22, days before allegations emerged that MLAs were offered jobs if they would resign and pave the way for Findlay to run in a byelection. Delaney had been at the centre of some of those allegations. Stewart Prest, a political science professor at the University of British Columbia, called Gasper’s promotion a bold move given the “unresolved allegations,” and the concerns coming from both inside and outside of the Conservative caucus. “It shows that Ms. Findlay’s unapologetic about anything she’s doing with regard to staffing in her own party, despite the fact that we have now, on numerous fronts, serious questions being asked about how she came to make the decisions she did and why she brought in the people that she did,” Prest said. B.C. Conservative exodus continues with 2 more MLAs, leader’s chief of staff Audio posted last week by an anonymous X account called “The Findlay Files” features a person who sounds like the Conservative leader saying if someone were willing to resign, she could “give them a role as a senior adviser in their same portfolio, so that they’re very much involved and around.” It’s illegal under the Criminal Code to negotiate a reward or benefit for resignation from political office. Findlay has called any suggestion that she broke the law “preposterous,” and described the comments in the recording as “normal political discussions.” The B.C. RCMP has said it is aware of the social media post, but would not confirm whether it has launched an investigation. Ian Paton, who left the Conservatives last week and plans to form a more moderate party with fellow defector Peter Milobar, said he was interviewed by the RCMP Wednesday regarding his own allegation that he was offered a job by Delaney if he agreed to vacate his seat. Findlay has faced what Prest called a “relentless” and unprecedented wave of defections from former Conservatives who question her leadership—including two on Wednesday from Scott McInnis and Donegal Wilson. “The fact that we continue to see defections raises the possibility that the B.C. Conservatives will not be the official Opposition at some point even before the next election,” Prest added. “We have never seen anything like this in B.C. politics.” The byelection in Abbotsford-Mission is scheduled for Sept. 26. Findlay will be facing Pam Alexis, the former NDP MLA who previously represented the riding, and CentreBC candidate Lakhwinder Jhaj. Milobar said the new party he and Paton are hoping to create will likely not have enough time to field a candidate in the race. With files from The Canadian Press
