Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis has left the B.C. Conservative caucus and will sit as an Independent, saying he no longer believes he can serve his constituents under party Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay.
McInnis announced his departure Wednesday, saying his conservative values have not changed but he can no longer support the direction, judgment and decisions of Findlay’s leadership.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for my colleagues who remain in the conservative caucus, and my decision in no way reflects on how I feel about those individuals,” McInnis said in a statement.
McInnis, a former teacher and principal, said he entered politics to improve the lives of his constituents and rural British Columbians rather than simply oppose the government.
“My goal has always been to serve the people of Columbia River-Revelstoke and help improve British Columbia. However, I no longer believe that goal can be attained under the current leadership.”
McInnis raised concerns about staffing decisions, senior appointments, caucus relations and what he described as the direction of the organization since Findlay became leader.
“Competent and experienced staff have been fired, serious ethical questions have accumulated around members of the Leader’s senior team, and reported connections to Alberta separatism-an issue which is extremely contentious in Columbia River-Revelstoke which shares a 200km border with Alberta-and matters involving the RCMP have only added to those concerns,” he said.
The allegations and concerns raised by McInnis have not been independently verified. His statement did not identify the senior staff members or specify the RCMP matters to which he referred.
McInnis also accused the party of becoming increasingly exclusive and too focused on “ideological bona fides” rather than building a broad coalition.
“Since 1956, no party has defeated the NDP unless they welcomed voters from the centre out to the right of the political spectrum. This is a historical fact, one that current BCC leadership refuses to accept.
“This is a recipe for failure.”
McInnis said he remains a conservative and will continue working toward a government based on free enterprise, fiscal responsibility and what he called a positive vision for B.C.
“History in BC teaches us what works and what does not. We have work to do, and I am up for the job.”
McInnis is the latest in a string of MLAs to leave the B.C. Conservative caucus since Findlay was elected leader in May.
His departure came the same day Boundary-Similkameen MLA Donegal Wilson announced she would sit as an Independent, saying she had lost confidence in Findlay’s leadership.
Wilson said communication between Findlay and caucus had broken down and raised concerns about the leader’s judgment, senior staffing decisions and the direction of the party.
“I never imagined things could go this wrong, this quickly,” Wilson said.
Wilson said the Abbotsford-Mission byelection, where Findlay is seeking a seat in the legislature, was the final factor in her decision to leave.
“Remaining in caucus would mean raising money, knocking on doors and asking British Columbians to put their confidence in Kerry-Lynne Findlay. I cannot do that,” Wilson said.
Peter Milobar, Ian Paton, Rosalyn Bird, Teresa Wat, Brennan Day, Bruce Banman and Áʼa꞉líya Warbus have also left the Conservative caucus in recent weeks to sit as Independents.
Milobar and Paton have said they intend to form a new centre-right political party, but none of the other former Conservative MLAs has publicly committed to joining them.
The departures come as Findlay campaigns in the Abbotsford-Mission byelection for a seat in the legislature.
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