By Grant Warkentin
On Wednesday night, the public will get a chance to hear from leadership hopefuls for the BC Conservative Party in a live-streamed debate.
The event is being hosted by Juno News; it will be live-streamed on YouTube. The debate is taking place at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster, and starts at 6:30 pm.
North Island – Powell River MP Aaron Gunn will co-moderate the debate, along with Lindsay Shepherd, former communications officer with the BC Conservative Party.
There are four of six total candidates confirmed for the debate: Iain Black, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Yuri Fulmer, and Warren Hamm. Caroline Elliott had originally planned to participate but has since withdrawn. Peter Milobar maintains he cannot attend because of a prior commitment to a campaign stop on Vancouver Island.
Breakdown: BC Conservative Leadership Hopefuls
| Candidate | Background | Slogan |
| Iain Black | BC Liberal under Gordon Campbell, held cabinet minister positions from 2008-2011, resigned in 2011 to be CEO of Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. Re-entered politics in 2025 to run for federal Conservatives but was defeated by federal Liberal incumbent. | “Get BC Back on Track” |
| Caroline Elliott | Ministerial staffer under Gordon Campbell’s BC Liberals. Championed Site C dam project while working at BC Hydro. BC Liberal Party vice-president 2022-2024, overseeing party rebrand to BC United. Ran in 2024 election but withdrew after BC United formally supported BC Conservative Party. | “Let’s Bring Hope Back to British Columbia” |
| Kerry-Lynne Findlay | Federal Conservative MP and cabinet minister from 2011-2015, including Minister of National Revenue position. Federal Conservative MP, opposition critic, and party whip from 2019-2025. Husband Brent Chapman is BC Conservative MLA for Surrey South. | “Keep It Conservative” |
| Yuri Fulmer | BC businessman, philanthropist, former chancellor of Capilano University. Ran for BC Conservatives in West Van – Sea to Sky but lost to Green candidate. Only candidate who has formally pledged to work with OneBC. | “Protect Our Party. Build Our Province.” |
| Warren Hamm | Businessman from Rossland in West Kootenays, 30 years as contractor and aircraft maintenance engineer. First to announce his leadership campaign in December 2025. | “Builders, not bureaucrats.” |
| Peter Milobar | Longest-serving mayor of Kamloops (2008-2017). Elected to provincial legislature in 2017 as BC Liberal for Kamloops-North Thompson, crossed floor to BC Conservatives after BC United dissolution, re-elected in 2024 for new Kamloops Centre riding. | “Ready To Lead BC” |
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