B.C. Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay said allegations of potential legal or ethical wrongdoing are part of an effort to derail her Abbotsford-Mission byelection campaign, as she announced another departure from her senior leadership team Wednesday.
Findlay issued a statement shortly after two more MLAs, Donegal Wilson and Scott McInnes, announced they were leaving the Conservative caucus to sit as Independents.
Wilson and McInnis join seven other MLAs who have left the caucus in recent weeks over frustrations with Findlay’s leadership. Several departing MLAs have cited concerns about Findlay’s leadership, judgment and senior staffing decisions..
Findlay has faced questions about whether MLAs were offered inducements to resign their could have a chance to win a legislature seat.
The Criminal Code includes offences involving the corrupt offering of an office, employment or other benefit to a member of a provincial legislature in connection with their official duties. It also prohibits negotiating a resignation from an office in expectation of a reward, advantage or benefit.
“These allegations are baseless. What we are seeing is a coordinated political attack designed to sidetrack our campaign at the very moment we are taking our message directly to the people of Abbotsford-Mission,” said Findlay.
Premier David Eby called a Sept. 26 byelection in Abbotsford-Mission after Reann Gasper resigned as MLA, clearing the way for Findlay to seek a seat in the legislature. Gasper subsequently became Findlay’s deputy chief of staff.
Findlay announced on Wednesday that Gasper would take over for Chris Delaney as her chief of staff, saying Delaney had resigned.
Former B.C. Conservative MLA Ian Paton has alleged he was offered a paid agriculture advisory position if he resigned his Delta South seat.
Findlay has previously said that multiple MLAs were approached about stepping down, but they were not directly offered anything in exchange.
However, leaked audio recordings appear to contradict that. Audio posted on X on Aug. 27 by anonymous account “The Findlay Files” purportedly features Findlay telling MLAs during a caucus meeting that if someone did choose to step aside so a byelection could be held, she would give them an advisory role in their same portfolio.
Findlay did not verify the authenticity of the recording but responded to it on social media the same day, saying any suggestion that the comments may constitute a criminal offence are “preposterous.”
“It is a weak attempt at a political smear job and nothing more. These were normal political discussions that respect the boundaries of the law and ethics,” she said.
Amid the ongoing exodus of Conservative MLAs, Findlay also announced last week she had fired her director of operations, Apollo Chung.
Findlay did not provide any details about why Chung was fired, but it came soon after another audio leak circulated on social media that allegedly featured a political staffer discussing using fundraisers for personal financial gain. The recording and the speaker in the leaked audio hasn’t been verified.
Findlay said Wednesday the attempts to portray allegations as fact are irresponsible.
“An allegation is not proof. Political opponents repeating an allegation does not make it true. Anonymous accounts posting material online do not determine guilt or innocence in this country,” said Findlay. “I categorically reject any suggestion that I engaged in illegal or unethical conduct.”
The former federal MP was subject to ethical scrutiny even before she won the leadership in May. Media reports that alleged she was under investigation for possible breaches of the Canada Elections Act, including undeclared campaign services and foreign nationals canvassing.
Elections Canada would not confirm the investigation and the allegations have not been proven.
Findlay denied the reports at the time, saying Elections Canada has not provided any notice of an investigation.
