Here’s a look back at the week that reshaped the political landscape of British Columbia, leading up to Tuesday’s election call by NDP Leader David Eby.
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that → ’ → Eby
Wednesday Sept. 16:
Eby addresses early election speculation, saying he told his party’s legislators and Elections BC to be “election ready.”
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he → address → legislators
B.C. Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay faces her caucus at a meeting in Vancouver, where former leader John Rustad and MLA Claire Rattée ask her to resign, with the party bleeding legislators opposed to her leadership and strategies.
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party → face → leadership
Some caucus members and others connected to the Conservatives complain about being targeted by a private investigator.
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members → connect → investigator
Thursday, Sept. 17:
Findlay tells the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention that she is “not going anywhere.”
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she → tell → convention
A lawyer hired by the Conservative party confirms the party’s former executive director hired the private investigator.
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director → hire → investigator
Findlay faces more calls to quit, with at least 10 legislators signing a letter asking her to go.
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legislators → face → her
Friday, Sept. 18:
Rustad, Rattée and Trevor Halford, the former interim leader of the Conservatives, are expelled from caucus by Findlay, bringing to 12 the losses in recent weeks.
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Rustad → expel → weeks
A group of eight former Conservative legislators announce they are joining the CentreBC party, with Peter Milobar taking over as leader of the grouping.
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Milobar → announce → grouping
Eby makes a series of election style announcements at the municipalities convention, including a pause to a planned expansion of the provincial sales tax, a $90-million tariff support package for businesses, and directing BC Ferries to build future vessels in the province.
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Eby → make → province
Saturday, Sept. 19:
Conservative legislator Linda Hepner also asks Findlay to resign.
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Hepner → ask → Findlay
Hepner quits the Conservative caucus, citing Friday’s expulsions of other members by Findlay.
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Hepner → quit → Findlay
Findlay announces her resignation as Conservative leader, saying it was not an easy decision, but “the right one for our movement and our province.”
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it → announce → movement
The NDP caucus meets to discuss election plans and the resignation of Findlay.
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caucus → meet → Findlay
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson returns from vacation in Africa to be appointed interim Conservative leader by the party’s board.
Monday, Sept. 21:
Five legislators are restored to the Conservative caucus, after being invited back by Doerkson.
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legislators → return → Doerkson
is among them, and says talks are underway to unite CentreBC and the Conservatives.
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talks → say → CentreBC
Agriculture Minister Lana Popham says she will not seek re-election for the NDP.
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she → say → NDP
Tuesday, Sept. 22:
MLA Brent Chapman, Findlay’s husband, quits the Conservatives to join OneBC.
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Chapman → quit → OneBC
Eby calls a snap election for Oct. 24, framing it as an “existential moment” for the province amid the threat of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war.
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Eby → call → war
Seven CentreBC legislators announce they are rejoining the Conservatives, as does Independent Brennan Day.
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Day → announce → Conservatives
Elenore Sturko remains in CentreBC and becomes its leader and sole legislator.
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Sturko → remain → CentreBC
Hepner, a former mayor in Surrey, says she won’t be running again in the provincial election.
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she → say → election
Health Minister Ravi Kahlon and Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene say they will not seek re-election for the NDP.
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they → say → NDP
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2026.
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report → publish → Press
Note to readers:This is a corrected story.
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This → correct → readers
A previous version incorrectly spelled Elenore Sturko’s first name.
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version → spell → name
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