Published 52 minutes ago • loading... • Updated 13 hours ago
Former rodeo rider Doerkson seeks to buck-off Eby in B.C. election
Doerkson is campaigning on repealing DRIPA, balancing the budget immediately and taking a tougher line on Trump tariffs as his party seeks a vote-splitting deal.
On Sunday, Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson received an unexpected call during a four-hour layover in Amsterdam while returning from South Africa, learning he would lead the party after Kerry-Lynne Findlay's resignation and face NDP Leader David Eby in the October 24 election.
To prevent vote-splitting that would hand the election to the NDP, CentreBC leader Peter Milobar negotiated a deal with Doerkson in Vancouver, then returned to the Conservative Party while informing other members they could join or remain.
Repealing DRIPA is Doerkson's top priority despite at least 20 legal challenges, while he called Donald Trump 'a bully,' committing to keep American alcohol off B.C. Liquor store shelves unless the U.S. provides concessions.
An Angus Reid poll released Thursday showed the Conservative Party up by eight points, reversing an earlier Liason Strategies survey, as Doerkson acknowledged facing a $13.8 billion deficit without seeing the government's complete financial picture.
Described by former Conservative Party executive director Angelo Isidorou as 'a salt-of-the-earth kind of guy,' Doerkson carries a reputation as a 'nice guy' even among opponents, though Elenore Sturko declined to merge, citing Conservatives' failure to condemn Trump and continued focus on gender identity over test scores.