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CP NewsAlert: Rustad invited back to B.C. Conservatives as election prospect looms

  • Wolfgang Depner

    Wolfgang Depner

  • Canadian Press

  • September 21, 2026

B.C. Conservative leadership candidate Kerry-Lynne Findlay looks on during a debate at the Canada Strong and Free Network conference in Vancouver on Friday, April 24, 2026. Findlay went on to win the leadership contest but resigned on Sunday after weeks of upheaval in the caucus. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

VICTORIA -- Former British Columbia Conservative leader John Rustad says he has been invited to rejoin the party's caucus, just days after he was expelled by Kerry-Lynne Findlay in the dying days of her own leadership.

Findlay quit on Sunday, with Lorne Doerkson appointed interim leader of the Opposition, and Rustad says Doerkson has reached out to him by text message and asked him back.

The development comes after the caucus of B.C.'s governing NDP met Sunday night to discuss a potential early election after Findlay's resignation, raising the prospect of voters going to the polls without the Opposition having a fixed candidate to become premier.

Doerkson is prohibited by the Conservative constitution from seeking the party leadership on a permanent basis.

More coming.