The political landscape in British Columbia is poised for a significant shift as the contest to lead the provincial Conservative party begins in earnest. This leadership race will determine the future face of the right in B.C., marking a definitive end to the John Rustad era and setting the stage for the next general election.
National Heavyweights Signal High-Stakes Battle
The arrival of political operatives like Kory Teneycke and Anthony Koch from Ontario and Quebec underscores the national importance of this provincial fight. Teneycke, the architect behind Ontario Premier Doug Ford's electoral majorities, is now overseeing the leadership bid of commentator Caroline Elliott. Koch, a former advisor to federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, served as the B.C. Conservative media spokesperson during the 2024 election.
Their involvement is a clear signal that the post-Rustad period will be intensely competitive, attracting attention and resources from conservatives across Canada. Elliott, a longtime figure in centre-right provincial circles, is expected to officially launch her campaign shortly.
A New Coalition for a Changed Province
Analysts agree there is no returning to the old formulas of the B.C. Liberal past, a party which renamed itself B.C. United before effectively merging with the Conservatives in 2024. The future winning coalition is seen as fundamentally different.
Whoever emerges as leader must recognize that modern conservatism in Canada now includes a significant base of blue-collar and unionized workers, alongside younger Canadians, in addition to traditional middle-class homeowners. Conversely, many wealthy managerial professionals have shifted leftward in the past decade, aligning with the B.C. NDP provincially or figures like Justin Trudeau and Mark Carney federally.
The article argues that the old B.C. Liberal appeal—a business-first party for professionals—has vanished. Since the NDP's victory in 2017, the author contends the province's growth, finances, and public order have deteriorated.
The Contenders and the Stakes
The race is quickly taking shape. Businessman Yuri Fulmer has officially announced his candidacy, pitching a "grand coalition" to broaden the party's tent. Other notable figures are likely to join, including former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Iain Black, who ran federally for the Conservatives in 2025, and Chris Gardner, president of the influential Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA).
The leadership contest follows the 2024 provincial election, where the struggling B.C. United party surrendered mid-campaign and folded its efforts into John Rustad's resurgent Conservatives. The outcome of this race will define whether the party can consolidate this new, working-class coalition that is often skeptical of green policies and concerned about property rights, setting the direction for the right in B.C. for years to come.
