The BC Conservatives’ Official Opposition House Leader and MLA A’a:liya Warbus has announced her departure from the BC Conservative caucus, citing the “parade” of other departures from the party after the party cancelled a caucus meeting.
Warbus once said opposition to land acknowledgements showed that racism was “alive and well,” and advocated for MLAs who rejected the narrative that the historic Kamloops Residential School was a secret mass murder site to be kicked out of the party.
She announced her departure Monday, after the party’s scheduled caucus meeting was cancelled. She said she would continue to sit as an MLA for Chilliwack-Cultus Lake.
“In today’s uncertain times, we need steady leadership more than ever. On many issues, as British Columbians, we may be divided, and we need someone who will bring more of us together,” she said in the post, noting that she was “disappointed” by her own announcement.
Warbus is the seventh MLA to leave the party after Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s election as the party leader at the end of May. Warbus is the second MLA to leave the party who wasn’t previously a BC United or BC Liberal.
