The BC Conservatives have just elected Kerry‑Lynne Findlay as leader, and I’m proud to say I voted for her. If Caroline Elliott had won, I would have respected that too — we live in a democracy, and the majority decides. We’ve had dinner with Kerry and her husband, Brent Chapman, several times, and I’ve always known her to be thoughtful, steady, and respectful. Brent is recovering from cancer. He's had a difficult few months. They are a lovely couple.
Twelve years ago, Brent posted something racist on social media. It resurfaced when he ran for provincial office. It wasn’t right — and he has acknowledged that. But it was also a long time ago. People grow. People learn. What matters is what they do after the mistake.
I watched every leadership debate. Kerry acknowledged that one of the candidates was married to an indigenous woman and it could be a conflict of interest in the debate of DRIPA. Not once did I hear Kerry say anything racist or hateful. That’s why I’m shocked to see such vicious comments online. The internet can bring out the worst in people.
As for Brent’s past remarks about Muslims, he and Kerry have since met with Muslim groups and worked to repair the harm. That matters. Owning a mistake and taking action to make things better matters.
My hope now is simple: that Kerry‑Lynne can bring the party together. She has real experience unifying people — she did it as Conservative Whip in Ottawa — and I believe she can unite the party here in BC.
