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8 months ago

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B.C. Conservatives’ leadership race: who’s in, who’s out and what’s next

British Columbia’s Conservative Party has officially launched its leadership contest, with the party set to name a new leader on May 30, 2026. The race follows a turbulent internal period that ended with former leader John Rustad stepping aside, and it’s shaping up as a compressed, high-stakes sprint focused on fundraising, membership growth, and party unity.

Key Takeaways

  • The B.C. Conservative leadership race concludes with a new leader announced on May 30, 2026.
  • Candidates face major entry costs: $115,000 in fees plus a $20,000 compliance deposit tied to rules and fines.
  • Six candidates have declared so far, ranging from sitting MLAs to former cabinet experience and outsider voices.
  • Several prominent names have declined to run.
  • Former Pattison Food Group president Darrell Jones says he is seriously considering a late entry.

The Deep Dive
The party’s contest framework sets a clear bar for would-be leaders: demonstrate organizational capacity early, particularly on fundraising and compliance. Under the published rules, leadership hopefuls must pay $115,000 in fees, plus a $20,000 deposit tied to compliance and potential fines. The structure is intended to ensure the next leader can finance a province-wide campaign operation, but it also raises the barrier to entry for candidates without a strong fundraising network.

So far, the declared field includes a half-dozen candidates:

Peter Milobar (MLA for Kamloops Centre and former Kamloops mayor) has joined the race emphasizing accountability and building the Conservatives into a credible “government-in-waiting.”

Iain Black (a former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister who also ran federally as a Conservative candidate in 2025) argues his blend of cabinet and private-sector experience makes him “election-ready.”

Yuri Fulmer (businessman, chancellor of Capilano University, and former Conservative candidate) is framing his bid around party unity after a year of internal division.

Sheldon Clare (MLA for Prince George–North Cariboo) has defended the party’s high entry fees as a sign the next leader must be able to fundraise at scale.

Caroline Elliott (political commentator and former B.C. United vice-president) is emphasizing culture-and-identity debates and what she describes as a pushback against “ideology” in public life.

Warren Hamm (a Rossland contractor and advocate) is positioning himself as an outsider option in the contest.

On the opt-out list, several names discussed early have publicly declined. Gavin Dew, the Conservative MLA for Kelowna-Mission, has said he will not run, citing family priorities and cautioning the party against internal distractions and “culture war” detours. Aaron Gunn, the federal MP for North Island–Powell River, has also ruled himself out, pointing to the risk of triggering a federal by-election that could affect the balance of power in Ottawa. Interim leader Trevor Halford has also indicated he does not intend to seek the role permanently.

Likely to enter / considering: Darrell Jones
One of the biggest “what’s next” questions is whether the field expands. Darrell Jones, the former president of the Pattison Food Group and widely recognized as the public face of “Darrell’s Deals” at Save-On-Foods, has said he is giving serious consideration to entering the leadership contest. Jones has pointed to affordability, housing, public safety, and access to reliable health care as the issues driving his decision, adding that he plans to keep listening before making a final call.

Darrell Jones is a B.C.-based grocery and retail executive best known for his decades-long career at Save-On-Foods and the broader Jim Pattison retail portfolio. He began in the food business in Cranbrook, B.C., as a retail grocery clerk at an Overwaitea store and worked his way through progressively senior roles across 23 stores and communities. He became president of Save-On-Foods in 2012 and, in 2021, was named president of the newly formed Pattison Food Group, overseeing food, drug, wholesale, and specialty retail operations spanning hundreds of stores and tens of thousands of employees. He has also served in community and charitable leadership roles, including as chair of the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, and became widely known outside the business world through his on-camera role promoting “Darrell’s Deals.”

Why It Matters
This leadership contest will help determine whether the B.C. Conservatives can unify after a bruising internal period and present themselves as a credible province-wide alternative. The tight timeline and steep entry costs put fundraising and organizational discipline at the center of the race factors that can shape who competes, how broadly they can campaign, and what kind of coalition they can build.

It will also influence the party’s public brand heading into the spring vote. A leader who can broaden support, especially on kitchen-table issues like affordability, housing, public safety, and health care, could expand the party’s reach. But a contest dominated by internal disputes risks narrowing its appeal. A potential late entry by a high-profile executive like Darrell Jones could further shift the race toward managerial competence and cost-of-living priorities as the May 30, 2026 decision approaches.

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BC STORIES

Unpacking the Ongoing Legal Feuds Involving OneBC Leader Dallas Brodie and Former Staff

OneBC Leader Dallas Brodie has filed a defamation lawsuit against former staffer Othman Mekhloufi over social media posts, marking her second recent lawsuit.

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16 hours ago

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September 7, 2026

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Independent MLA Dallas Brodie Files Lawsuit Against Former Staffer

OneBC Leader Dallas Brodie has initiated legal action against a former party employee, claiming he conducted an online defamation campaign that harmed her public standing.

The lawsuit, filed Aug. 31, targets former OneBC staffer Othman Mekhloufi. Court documents state Mekhloufi posted statements on X (formerly Twitter) starting in February that described Brodie as “violent” as well as “unstable and abusive.” The filing contends these statements were deliberate attempts to subject Brodie to contempt and hatred, causing her ongoing injury and loss of reputation.

Statements and Dismissal Allegations

According to court filings, Mekhloufi’s posts made several assertions regarding Brodie’s conduct and mental state, including an allegation that she “drunkenly assaulted a fellow MLA in a public restaurant.” Brodie’s suit labels these claims “false, malicious and defamatory.”

Mekhloufi was terminated from his position at OneBC in December 2025. Brodie’s filing states his dismissal stemmed from online posts containing “Neo-Nazi, white-nationalist and anti-Semitic content.” He now performs communications work for Kelowna-Lake-Country MLA Tara Armstrong, who left OneBC that same month citing a loss of confidence in Brodie’s leadership. Because British Columbia legislative rules require a minimum of two MLAs for official party status, both Brodie and Armstrong currently sit as Independents.

In an emailed statement, Mekhloufi responded: “Ms. Brodie is spiralling, suing people for calling her crazy on Twitter. I’m sympathetic to her situation, and I hope she receives the help she needs.” As of Sept. 3, some posts cited in the lawsuit no longer appeared on his account.

Second Legal Battle Involving Party Leadership

This claim represents the second piece of litigation involving Brodie and former party personnel in recent months. On July 23, former OneBC chief of staff Tim Thielmann filed a wrongful dismissal suit against Brodie.

Thielmann, who now serves as chief of staff for Armstrong, claims Brodie publicly associated his termination with her opposition to extremist ideologies. His filing states Brodie knew this framing would “falsely brand (Thielmann) as a sympathizer of racist, hateful or extremist ideologies.”

None of the allegations contained in either lawsuit have been proven in court.

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BC STORIES

Why Okanagan Leaders Want an Underutilized Oliver Prison Converted for Addiction Care

Okanagan municipal leaders urge B.C. ministers to convert part of the Oliver Correctional Centre into a mandatory addiction care and treatment facility.

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16 hours ago

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September 7, 2026

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Regional Proposal Focuses on Underutilized Jail Facility

Municipal officials and Indigenous leadership across the Okanagan are taking their pitch directly to provincial ministers at the upcoming Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, urging the government to evaluate converting part of the Okanagan Correctional Centre into a mandatory treatment facility.

Gathering in a field opposite the Oliver facility on Friday, representatives including Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas, West Kelowna Mayor Gord Milsom, Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield, Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming, Oliver Mayor Martin Johansen, and Mary Wilbur of the Osoyoos Indian Band advocated for immediate regional action on severe addiction.

Local leaders emphasized that traditional voluntary treatment options are insufficient given the presence of dangerous substances like fentanyl and xylazine in the illicit supply. According to Bloomfield, adapting an existing building would save billions of dollars and years of construction time compared to erecting a new specialized site from scratch.

Provincial Capacity and Regional Context

Data from B.C.’s Ministry of Public Safety indicates that the 400-cell correctional facility in Oliver, constructed in 2016, currently averages about 200 occupants. Local mayors noted provincial estimates showing a need for roughly 2,500 involuntary care beds across British Columbia.

In a statement addressing the proposal, the Ministry of Health noted that B.C. presently maintains more than 2,000 involuntary mental-health beds under the Mental Health Act, with 258 located within the Interior Health region. The province confirmed it is actively collaborating with Interior Health, the Ministry of Infrastructure, and provincial adviser Dr. Daniel Vigo to determine appropriate sites for expanding specialized mental health and substance use beds in the Interior.

Community Engagement and Local Concerns

The proposal also accounts for ongoing local sentiments in the South Okanagan. Since the correctional centre opened, area residents have expressed persistent concerns regarding local crime rates and prisoner releases, particularly following the discontinuation of regional bus services.

Oliver Mayor Martin Johansen, who is not seeking re-election, stressed that local residents and municipal leaders must be directly involved in future discussions regarding any operational shifts at the facility, acknowledging that while mandatory care is not a single cure-all, dedicated secure stabilization options remain critical for individuals unable to care for themselves.

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BC STORIES

How a Massive New Northern B.C. Power Project Aims to Fuel Industrial Growth

B.C. and federal leaders break ground on the $6B North Coast Transmission Line to double electrical capacity and power northern industrial growth.

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16 hours ago

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September 7, 2026

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Work Begins on Multi-Billion-Dollar Power Grid Expansion

B.C. Premier David Eby and Federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson gathered in Prince George on Thursday, Sept. 3, to officially announce the start of construction on the North Coast Transmission Line.

Eby described the project as a “massive generational project, the kind of project that we hope that the next generation will look back and say, ‘I’m really glad that this was done.'”

Funding and Project Scope

The B.C. government projects that the initial two phases of the infrastructure project will cost approximately $6 billion. The federal government is supplying $3.5 billion toward the initiative and has committed additional funding for a planned extension.

Designed to more than double east-to-west electricity capacity, the power line will transport hydroelectricity from facilities like Site C—now named the John Horgan Dam—to industrial operations across the region’s “golden triangle.” Beyond powering resource sites, officials noted the line will support northern liquid natural gas (LNG) and mining operations.

Timeline and Regional Impact

The transmission corridor will connect Prince George to Terrace, with a proposed third stage stretching 355 kilometres northwest to Bob Quinn Lake. Construction of Phase 1, running from Prince George to Glenannan, is scheduled for completion by 2030. Phase 2 is targeted to reach Terrace by 2032, while specifics regarding Phase 3 have yet to be disclosed.

Minister Hodgson highlighted the vital minerals mined in the area, including copper, nickel, and zinc. He noted these deposits “are increasingly essential to the global economy, whether it’s modern manufacturing, whether it’s defence applications,” as well as for batteries, solar panels, and clean energy technologies.

Hodgson added that natural gas extraction and exports generate critical public revenue, which helps fund services such as healthcare, child care, dental care, public safety, and road infrastructure across British Columbia and Canada.

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