With a change in leadership for the BC Conservatives, the party has officially invited five MLAs back who either resigned because of, or were ejected from, the party by former leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay.
Amongst those invited back are John Rustad, Trevor Halford and Scott McInnis.
Rustad and McInnis have already accepted the invitation to return and are set to rejoin the party, pending the legislative process.
The party, under Lorne Doerkson’s leadership, also invited Claire Ratttée — who was ousted from the party at the same time as Rustad and Halford — back into the fold.
A source within the party also confirmed that the party has invited Linda Hepner — who left the party caucus on Sunday right before Findlay herself resigned — to rejoin caucus.
Rustad, the party’s first leader following its revival in 2024, shared that he respected Findlay’s decision to leave the party and called Doerkson, the interim leader of the official opposition, a “quality individual.”
“A lot of people in this province do not know him yet. They will. He asked me to come back to caucus. This afternoon, I accepted,” Rustad said in a statement. “I am returning to do the work, not to run the next chapter from the outside. If the new leadership wants my help, they will have it.”
Rustad said he wouldn’t try to “force” his “old vision” on the party's new leadership, but he called for unity with CentreBC amid talk of Premier David Eby calling a snap election.
“David Eby would rather call an election while this party is finding its feet than defend what his government has actually done,” Rustad said. “Families in this province already know that record. I have not given up on British Columbia. I do not think the people who live here have either.”
McInnis also accepted the invitation, saying he believes in building a party that can represent the “majority of British Columbians.”
“As I have always said, I understand and adhere to the importance of loyalty to party and leader, but my foremost loyalty must always be to the people of my constituency and to the province generally,” McInnis said.
“When I left caucus, it was because I believed the majority of my constituents and other British Columbians did not agree with the direction which the former leader had shifted toward. I never lost my respect for my colleagues, many of whom I consider close friends. We share a common belief that British Columbians deserve practical solutions, fiscal responsibility, and a government focused on delivering results.”
The statement noted that the prospect of another provincial election calls for a “united opposition,” stating that “no political party since 1952 has defeated the NDP without being a big tent party.”
“My constituents expect me to be part of a strong and effective opposition that can hold the government accountable and offer a credible alternative,” he said in the post.
“British Columbians deserve a united team focused on addressing the real challenges facing this province, from healthcare and public safety to affordability, economic opportunity, and access to public land. Rejoining caucus allows me to reunite with my team and focus on that important work.”
Doerkson said in a statement released by McInnis’ team that the BC Conservatives are “pleased” to welcome him back, calling him a principled voice on the issues that matter to “most British Columbians.”
“We are committed to building a broad, center-right coalition focused on practical solutions, responsible government, and a brighter future for British Columbia,” Doerkson said.
“McInnis said he looks forward to working collaboratively with his caucus colleagues and all interested British Columbians to strengthen the opposition and provide British Columbians with a clear vision for the future.”