Lorne Doerkson said the B.C. Conservatives are more united than ever after their major victory in Saturday’s provincial election.
“I’m so thrilled with the support we’ve reached right across the province and absolutely excited to represent everyone in our party and everyone in British Columbia,” Doerkson said in a news conference in Vancouver on Sunday.
Doerkson remains the party’s interim leader after being appointed to replace Kerry-Lynne Findlay just days before the election was called last month.
The Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA took over amid divisions within the Conservative caucus over Findlay’s leadership. Several MLAs had left the caucus before returning following her resignation.
Doerkson brushed off his leadership status as an administrative detail. He said the details about the formal process to transition him to permanent party leader would be coming “imminently.”
He did not rule out a return to the legislature this fall, saying he is considering an abbreviated session.
“Of course, we have much to do before we can get there to make that decision, but I won’t rule that out,” Doerkson said.
The election won’t officially be over until Elections BC returns the writs on Nov. 18.
Doerkson said he intends to get to work right away because “four years comes quick.”
He affirmed the party’s key commitment to repeal the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, but suggested that would likely be put off until the spring.
“Obviously, it’s a thick piece of legislation,” he said. “We’re committed to doing it as soon as we can.”
Doerkson has said another top priority for his new government will be to launch an independent review of the province’s finances.
He didn’t offer a timeline and said he doesn’t yet know who would conduct the review, but said the government would use “every resource” it can.
Doerkson said other priorities for his first 100 days in government will be to assemble an expert panel on health care, improve security and staffing in hospitals, and focus on boosting the forestry and LNG industries.
Preliminary results show the Conservatives won 63 seats, while the B.C. NDP trailed with 28 seats and the B.C. Greens held on to two seats.
Less than half of eligible voters in the province cast a ballot in the election, with voter turnout of just over 48 per cent.
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