BC Conservatives Establish New Committee Responsible for Leadership Race

Conservative Party of Canada President Scott Lamb speaks during the 2020 Leadership Election in Ottawa on Aug. 23, 2020. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

The Conservative Party of British Columbia says it has formed a leadership committee to oversee the party’s leadership race and the administration of its rules and procedures.

Scott Lamb, chair of the new committee—the Leadership Election Organizing Committee—says B.C. is “desperately” in need of new leadership.

“Our Province is at a crossroads and is desperately in need of new leadership to guide British Columbia out of the economic and political crises that the NDP government has created,” Lamb said in a Jan. 2 statement.

“The next leader of the Conservatives will be the Leader of the Official Opposition and the government in waiting, setting the course for the future government of our great Province.”

Lamb, who formerly served as president of the Conservative Party of Canada, said the committee will begin its work “right away” to establish the rules, processes, and administration for the leadership race that is expected to be called early this year, “with the aim of commencing the election for a new Leader of the Conservative Party of BC as soon as possible thereafter.”

The committee is expected to share further information with the public in the coming weeks.

The leadership race follows former B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad’s resignation on Dec. 4, 2025, one day after the majority of his caucus expressed a lack of “confidence” in his leadership and considered him unable to continue serving as head of the party.

Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford currently heads the party as interim leader, after 20 members of the 39-member caucus said they wanted Rustad out as party leader.

While no one has officially announced plans to run as the party’s leader since Rustad stepped down on Dec. 4, there are some potential contenders.

B.C. Conservative MLA Harman Bhangu said on Dec. 30 that he will “most likely” pursue the leadership of his party in the upcoming race, but only if he finds the rules for the contest, which have yet to be announced, acceptable.

Bhangu’s potential leadership bid followed federal MP Aaron Gunn’s Dec. 24 announcement that he will not enter the race to lead the B.C. Conservatives. Gunn said his decision to stay on as a federal MP rather than contend to lead the B.C. Conservatives was motivated by his desire to ensure the Liberal government doesn’t have the chance to obtain a majority in Parliament.

Those who have also been suggested as contenders to lead the party include Conservative MLA Peter Milobar, former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Iain Black, former federal Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay, entrepreneur Yuri Fulmer, commentator Caroline Elliott, and Chris Gardner, president and CEO of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association. None have yet officially entered the race.

The province’s Conservative Party has faced turmoil since becoming the official Opposition last year, including the expulsions of MLAs Dallas Brodie and Elenore Sturko, in addition to the resignations of MLAs Jordan Kealy, Tara Armstrong, and Amelia Boultbee.

The B.C. Conservatives currently hold 39 seats in the province’s legislature, while the governing NDPs hold 47 seats.

Paul Rowan Brian contributed to this report.