Lawyer says former B.C. Conservative director hired private eye, angering legislators

  • Canadian Press

Elected leader of the B.C. Conservative Party Kerry-Lynne Findlay speaks during leadership election night in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 30, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

A lawyer retained by the British Columbia Conservatives says the party's former executive director hired a private investigator, and legislators critical of Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay say they were targeted.

King's counsel Bruce Hallsor says Elaine Allan hired the investigator, but he would not name him or those he investigated.

Hallsor says he was retained by the party's president, Mauro Francis, on Tuesday to look into claims that a private eye had been hired by someone, and he delivered a "very preliminary report" on Wednesday afternoon.

Allan served briefly as executive director of the party until being relieved of her duties last month and did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Legislator Claire Rattee, who issued a strong critique of Findlay's leadership this week, says in a social media post that she was told about being targeted by the private eye on Wednesday.

She says she is deeply troubled by the information, while Brennan Day, who recently quit the Conservative caucus, says in a text message that he was also among a group of MLAs being investigated.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2026.