Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis announced this afternoon that effective immediately he is leaving the BC Conservative Party (BCC) caucus to sit as an independent Member of the Legislative Assembly, citing concerns about party leadership.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for my colleagues who remain in the Conservative Caucus, and my decision in no way reflects on how I feel about those individuals. When I left the teaching profession and entered public life, I did so because I wanted to materially improve the lives of my constituents and help build a better British Columbia, especially for rural communities,” McInnis stated.

“I did not come here simply to oppose government. I came here because I wanted to help form one. My goal has always been to serve the people of Columbia River-Revelstoke and help improve British Columbia. However, I no longer believe that goal can be attained under the current leadership.

“I am a conservative person. My values, shaped by a rural upbringing and grounded in conservative principles, remain unchanged: small government, lower taxes, a strong economy, individual freedoms, justice, merit, and a duty to help your neighbors and community. Those values remain unchanged,” he explained, adding, “What I can no longer support are the direction, judgment and decisions of Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s leadership.”

“Since becoming Leader, decisions about staffing, senior appointments, caucus relations and the direction of the organization have caused me growing concern,” said McInnis, who has been the BC Conservative Party Shadow Minister for Indigenous Relations and was recently named in charge of Caucus Policy Development.

“Competent and experienced staff have been fired, serious ethical questions have accumulated around members of the Leader’s senior team, and reported connections to Alberta separatism-an issue which is extremely contentious in Columbia River-Revelstoke, which shares a 200 km border with Alberta, and matters involving the RCMP, have only added to those concerns. At the same time, the party has increasingly become an exclusive private club more concerned with ideological bona fides than building the broad coalition required to serve British Columbians and form government,” he expounded.

“Since 1956, no party has defeated the NDP unless they welcomed voters from the centre out to the right of the political spectrum. This is a historical fact, one that current BCC leadership refuses to accept. This is a recipe for failure,” McInnis pointed out.

“I remain a conservative. I will continue working toward a government grounded in free enterprise, responsible fiscal management and a positive vision for B.C., one capable of bringing people together rather than driving them apart.

“History in B.C. teaches us what works and what does not. We have work to do, and am up for the job,” he concluded.

McInnis said he will communicate more with constituents in the near future.

He is the seventh BCC MLA to leave the party in the past three weeks.

e-KNOW

Article Share