On August 26, 2026, I made the decision to leave the Conservative Party of BC and sit as an Independent Conservative MLA. My circumstances have changed, but my politics and the job I was elected to do have not.
I entered politics because I believe British Columbia can be governed better: with fiscal discipline, individual freedom, strong public services, economic opportunity and respect for the people paying the bills.
Those principles remain the same. Sitting as an Independent gives me the freedom to exercise my judgment, speak plainly and assess proposals on their merits while remaining focused on the people I was elected to represent.
There is a great deal of work to do. Healthcare, affordability, public safety, forestry, our economy and government accountability all deserve more attention than the internal workings of any political party.
I will continue to approach government and opposition proposals by the same standard: is the idea sound, will it improve outcomes, and is it in the public interest? When the NDP government gets something wrong, I will say so. When any party puts forward a good idea, I am prepared to support it.
There will be time to discuss what comes next politically. For now, my focus is straightforward: represent Courtenay–Comox, do the work and make the most of the independence I now have.