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Another Conservative MLA has resigned, joining 13 other MLAs the party has lost since August, amid growing calls for leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay to resign.
Linda Hepner, who serves in B.C’s Surrey-Serpentine River riding and formerly served as Surrey’s mayor, told CBC News Sunday morning she has resigned from Conservative caucus “effective immediately.”
In her message sent to Findlay that she provided to CBC News, Hepner said she has lost confidence in the party leadership’s willingness to listen, seek experienced advice and consider different perspectives.
She described the party as “a distracting cacophony of voices that are not grounded in the everyday concerns of British Columbians.”
The Conservative Party now has 24 remaining MLAs. It has lost 14, 10 of whom resigned and three who were kicked out.
Reann Gasper, one of the 10 MLAs who resigned, stepped down to allow Findlay to run in her riding in a byelection.
MLAs Linda Hepner, left, and Elenore Sturko during the Save Our Streets forum in Vancouver on Jan. 23, 2025. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Hepner said in her message to Findlay she found the decision to remove three MLAs — Trevor Halford, Claire Rattée and John Rustad — concerning.
“To me, it is beyond the pale of common sense to remove experienced voices rather than find a way to listen to them,” her message said.
She highlighted Rustad, saying he built the party from a single elected member and brought it to its highest standing in the polls.
Hepner said she will continue to serve her constituents.
But she would not say if she plans to join CentreBC, a party made up of eight former B.C. Conservative MLAs.
“It’s incredibly sad to me that these are all my same colleagues now on both sides,” she said. “Today, my only decision is removing myself from the current state of caucus.”