DAWSON CREEK, B.C. - New allegations are deepening divisions within the B.C. Conservative Party, with sources claiming the party hired a private investigator to gather information on current and former members who criticized its leadership.
The allegations surfaced as party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay faces growing pressure from within her own caucus after an emergency meeting was held Wednesday night at her downtown Vancouver office.
Sources say several caucus members asked Findlay to step down as leader, but she has refused.
Addressing the Union of B.C. Municipalities Convention Thursday morning, Findlay said, “27,000 party members voted for me as leader who will collaborate and welcome anyone from any background or political alliances.”
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.
Sources tell CJDC TV News, the investigation included both current and former MLAs, as well as former party executives.
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. Allan is described by sources as a personal friend of Findlay’s.
Skeena MLA Clair 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.
The claims come amid continuing turmoil within the opposition party. Sources say nine MLAs have left the B.C. Conservatives since August, citing concerns about Findlay’s leadership and the party’s direction.
On Wednesday, Ratee publicly criticized Findlay, saying the opposition remains deeply divided.
Sources also told CJDC TV News that a caucus meeting scheduled for Wednesday morning did not proceed as planned after Findlay failed to attend, prompting Rattee to criticize the leader.
The allegations surrounding the alleged use of a private investigator are likely to add further pressure on an already fractured caucus as questions continue to mount over the party’s leadership and internal operations.
With files from CTV Vancouver’s Kaija Jussinoja and The Canadian Press