Final debate held for B.C. Conservative leadership hopefuls

BURNABY — The five candidates running for the leadership of the Opposition B.C. Conservatives have faced off for their final debate, capping off a campaign dominated by disputes over their ideological credentials.

The 90-minute debate between candidates Iain Black, Caroline Elliott, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Peter Milobar and Yuri Fulmer saw all candidates broadly agree on the main issues.

That included the need to unify the party and bring in new voters, repeal the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the need for an overhaul of the health-care system. All also expressed support for a new oil pipeline to B.C.’s coast.

But they clashed over who was best to lead and whose background made them best equipped to head the party.

The debate took place on the day the party started sending out ballots to more than 42,000 party members. The winner will be declared later this month.

The first two debates last month revealed sharp disagreements about issues such as land acknowledgments, diversity polices, education and what it means to be conservative.

But the candidates broadly agreed on plans to revive the provincial economy through a combination of tax cuts, faster permitting and efficiencies.

The third debate on Saturday again featured several feisty exchanges between the candidates.

For instance, while the candidates agreed on the need to repeal DRIPA, Elliott argued that the other candidates had not spoken up against it “when it was politically hard to do so.”

“When it’s politically hard to proceed with repealing DRIPPA in full, I don’t have the confidence that they will actually do that,” she said.

Findlay pushed back saying she was fighting Indigenous land issues “when it is very unpopular.” Elliott responded by thanking her for that work, but repeated that others on the stage had supported it and its adoption in the corporate sector.

Perhaps the most combative exchange of the night came when the candidates were asked about their views on how best to entice investors in the natural resource sector. Findlay accused Milobar of a conflict of interest.

Milobar took offence as he took it to mean it was because his wife is Indigenous.

“Just say it — my wife’s Indigenous so you think I’m in conflict of interest. I’ve never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life,” he said, later saying it is not a conflict of interest and he has voted against “lots of Indigenous issues.”

Former leader John Rustad resigned on Dec. 4, with Trevor Halford acting as interim leader. The new leader will be declared at a convention on May 30.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2026.

The Canadian Press