Brennan Day becomes 5th MLA to leave Conservative Party of BC this month

Courtenay-Comox MLA Brennan Day is the fifth legislator to quit the Conservative Party of BC this month, and the fourth this week. 

Day follows in the footsteps of Teresa Wat, who left Conservatives on Wednesday; Rosalyn Bird, who left Tuesday; Ian Paton, who quit on Monday; and Peter Milobar, former Conservative leadership candidate and finance critic who quit earlier this month.

All five of these MLAs now sit as Independants, and all blame the newly elected Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay for their departure. 

Paton and Milobar have also announced that they intend to create a new “centrist” political party.

“I know this decision will disappoint some people in Courtenay-Comox, including many who worked hard, donated, volunteered, knocked on doors and put their trust in me as a Conservative candidate,” said Day in a social media post announcing his departure. 

“I am genuinely sorry for that disappointment, and I do not take it lightly.”

Day says when he ran for office, he was committed to represent his Vancouver Island community over his party. 

“I have lost confidence in the judgment, conduct, and ethical standards of Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s leadership,” said Day.  

“I cannot hold government to a standard I am unwilling to apply to my own side.”

Day says that the departure will not change his politics—he remains conservative in his views, he will fight for responsible government, fiscal discipline, individual freedom, strong public services and an economy that rewards hard work.

He also noted he plans on continuing to hold Premier David Eby and the NDP accountable to British Columbians. 

Currently, there are 48 NDP MLAs, 39 Conservatives, 10 Independents and two BC Green Party MLAs in the legislative assembly. 

Kerry-Lynne Findlay does not presently hold a seat in the BC legislature, even though she is the party’s leader. 

She will reportedly be running in a by-election in the Abbotsford-Mission riding, following the resignation of MLA Reann Gasper. 

Since Gasper’s resignation, she has been appointed the Conservative’s caucus deputy chief of staff.