MLA for Chilliwack-Cultus Lake Áʼa꞉líya Warbus announced her departure from the B.C. Conservative caucus Monday, marking the seventh defection from the beleaguered party just this month. The former house leader cited a “critical breakdown in communication” between leadership, MLAs and staff amid a series of firings, hirings and appointments since Kerry-Lynne Findlay was named leader in May. “As an MLA I am sworn to this office to represent my constituents, and the issues that they’ve repeatedly told me—matter to them. I have lost confidence I can do that from within this caucus, under this leadership,” Warbus wrote in a statement. In what she described as an “implosion of events” over the past week which included the exodus of several MLAs and allegations Findlay illegally offered jobs to legislators in exchange for resigning so she could run in a byelection. Findlay said a purported leaked recording of her included “normal political discussions” and not any criminal offence. Amid the turmoil, a meeting with Conservative caucus members was set to take place on Monday, followed by a news conference from Findlay—but both were called off. “The decision to postpone today’s caucus meeting for a month reflects the lack of value being placed on caucus members and their opinions. It is one thing to ask for people’s trust, and quite another to blind fold someone and expect faith alone to substitute for transparency and accountability,” Warbus wrote. “This mounting instability is not what anyone would expect from the next premier of our province. Much of the news coming out of the B.C. Conservatives as of late, does not reflect the honest values of leadership and governance our constituents expect of us.” Warbus will now sit as an Independent with fellow defectors Brennan Day, Teresa Wat, Rosalyn Bird and Bruce Banman. Peter Milobar and Ian Paton have announced they are starting a new party together. In an interview with CTV News Monday, Warbus said while she does not have any aspirations to lead a new party, she is committed to serving her riding still stands for the “Conservative values” she ran under. “I’m here to hold the NDP to account, but I want to do that in a way that brings people together and does not tear us apart. I want to do that in a way that people are inspired and that they feel hopeful and that they feel like there’s a future here in British Columbia,” she said. Warbus said she hopes someone steps up to the plate whom the right-of-centre can rally around and defeat the NDP in the next election. Meanwhile, a byelection that could get Findlay into the legislature is scheduled in Abbotsford-Mission on Sept. 26. Warbus added she is not calling on Findlay to resign and the byelection will be a test of where she stands with voters.
