The British Columbia Conservative Party has lost another caucus member, with Claire Rattée issuing a scathing exit statement that says she was among at least 10 Conservatives who signed a letter calling on party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay to quit. Rattée, who is the 10th MLA to leave the Conservative caucus since August, accused Findlay of trying to “oust members of her own caucus” and said she must resign immediately. “That she is attempting to remove B.C. Conservative incumbent MLAs on the eve of a potential snap election is yet another example of her demonstrating poor judgment that doesn’t befit someone attempting to become premier,” Rattée said in the statement on Friday. Rattée said Findlay was driving key members of her team “into situations that will undoubtedly split votes and give more seats to the NDP.” Of the 10 defectors, seven have said they plan to sit in the legislature as a new party that will have Peter Milobar as its interim leader. However, Milobar and Mike Bernier, the leader of the fledgling CentreBC party, plan to hold a news conference in Vancouver later Friday. The office of the clerk confirmed Rattée was no longer a member of the official Opposition caucus, while the number of Independents in the legislature went up by one to 15. Findlay said Thursday that she wasn’t leaving the helm amid speculation that Premier David Eby could call an early election at any time. Rattée said she was among a group of Conservative MLAs who were targeted by a private investigator, “hired by a senior party official.” Lawyer Bruce Hallsor, a King’s counsel, told The Canadian Press on Thursday that he was retained by the party look into the claims about the private eye, and he had found that the Conservatives’ former executive director Elaine Allan hired the investigator. Allan, who served briefly as executive director of the party until being relieved of her duties last month, has not responded to requests for comment. Rattée said in Friday’s statement that she was saddened to find out she had come under investigation, calling it a “complete lapse of judgment” by those involved. The ongoing upheaval in the B.C. Conservative ranks comes amid speculation that Eby will call an early election, less than two years into his mandate. This report by Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press, was first published Sept. 18, 2026.
