Who is Lorne Doerkson? Meet the B.C. Conservatives' new interim leader

Lorne Doerkson is the latest to take up the reins of the B.C. Conservative Party, after Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned on Sunday.

Findlay’s resignation as leader comes following an exodus of MLAs and the firings of key party staff members, adding to general mayhem and turmoil within party ranks.

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Doerkson was first elected as MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin in 2020, winning 51.25 per cent of the vote. At the time, Doerkson ran under the B.C. Liberal banner, taking the riding with a healthy margin over the NDP’s Scott Andrews (32.46 per cent).

The B.C. NDP would go on to form government following the 2020 election, leaving the B.C. Liberals — which would later be renamed B.C. United — to sit as Opposition.

Under B.C. United, Doerkson served as Opposition critic for rural development, and as the party’s deputy whip.

In the spring of 2024, Doerkson made the decision to cross the floor and join the B.C. Conservatives.

His defection from the B.C. United party came as talks for a possible non-compete deal broke down between the two parties, leading up to the 2024 election.

“This is the toughest decision I have made in my life,” he told media at the time .

“I have spent countless hours listening to my constituents in recent months. The response has been overwhelming. They want to see David Eby defeated and they want to see a common sense Conservative government in Victoria,” he said.