British Columbia's political landscape shifted dramatically this week. After Carrie Lynn Findlay's resignation as BC Conservative leader on Monday, Lorne Doerkson — the MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin — stepped into the role of interim leader. The very next day, Premier David Eby called a snap provincial election for October 24, giving Doerkson just one month to introduce himself to voters who largely don't know his name.

In an interview with CBC's The Early Edition with Stephen Quinn, Doerkson acknowledged the unusual circumstances of his rise, saying he's ready to meet the challenge despite not having been among the five candidates who ran for the leadership last spring.

Watch video at this URL: https://youtu.be/pc1yln77BTY?si=KpNbLVqJgVHYZr4j

Reuniting a fractured caucus

The BC Conservatives have weathered visible turmoil over the past two years, including high-profile MLA departures — among them Peter Milobar, who briefly led the breakaway Centre BC party before rejoining the Conservative fold alongside Doerkson this week. Doerkson described days of near-constant conversations aimed at "regification" — bringing the party's fractured wings back together ahead of the vote, framing unity as essential to defeating the NDP.

Pushing back on the "Trump" comparison

Eby has cast the snap election partly as a response to the political climate south of the border, suggesting the Conservatives echo Trump-style politics. Doerkson rejected the comparison outright, calling Donald Trump a genuine threat to the province while arguing BC's own government has failed to strengthen key industries — pointing to a recent shipbuilding contract awarded overseas as a missed opportunity for the province's economy, alongside what he called overly burdensome permitting processes in forestry and mining.

SOGI, Indigenous relations, and climate

Pressed on divisive social issues that have split his caucus before, Doerkson said he supports the LGBTQ community but called for the SOGI program to be scrapped, arguing it has drifted from its anti-bullying origins and that schools should refocus on core subjects like reading and arithmetic.

On residential schools, he affirmed support for First Nations and called for deeper investigation where harm occurred, while pointing to partnerships like the Williams Lake First Nation as models for resource-sharing success. On climate change, he cited BC's severe 2026 wildfire season — including fires near his own riding in Cariboo-Chilcotin — as evidence the province faces serious challenges, while distancing himself from predecessor John Rustad's climate skepticism.

Uniting the right

Asked whether he'd strike a deal with One BC's Dallas Brody to avoid vote-splitting, Doerkson said he wants to "unite the right" but isn't interested in special arrangements, confirming the party will run a full slate of 93 candidates.

With five weeks to close the gap, Doerkson's challenge is twofold: unify a caucus that has fractured repeatedly since 2022, and convince British Columbians largely meeting him for the first time that he's ready to lead the province.

Credit: Interview footage and quotes via The Early Edition with Stephen Quinn, CBC British Columbia — 1,394 views, published Sept 24, 2026

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