Lorne Doerkson (image credit - Global)

By Michael Reeve

BC ELECTION 2024

Tobiano, Savona and Cherry Creek turn into political battleground with Doerkson’s defection

May 31, 2024 | 5:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — An incumbent BC United MLA has crossed the floor to the BC Conservatives, just months before British Columbians head to the polls this October. Lorne Doerkson, the MLA for the Cariboo-Chilcotin riding, which after recent electoral boundary changes includes the Tobiano and Savona areas just west of Kamloops city limits, was officially welcomed to the Tories during a Friday (May 31) afternoon press conference in Victoria.

“Today, I’m super pleased to be here with some very accomplished candidates and MLAs,” said BC United Leader Kevin Falcon on October 10, 2023.

That was Falcon in Kamloops last October to announce a quartet of candidates for this year’s election. Standing directly behind him was Doerkson, now a member of John Rustad’s BC Conservatives.

“Lorne is somebody I have worked with. I know he is very passionate about his riding, he is passionate particularly about the people of his riding, the resources, forest sector, agriculture, and he did just remarkable work as well fighting for his riding during the wildfires,” said Rustad.

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Speaking from the halls of the B.C. Legislature, Doerkson spoke to what he called a large grassroots movement of the the Conservative party and his hopes of forming government with his new stripes.

“Recent events, I think have really shown that I think my residents and certainly people in Williams Lake and Cariboo-Chilcotin have made it very clear to me that they want a Conservative to represent them because I think they really feel that is the only alternative party to the NDP right now,” said Doerkson, donning a Conservative lapel pin over his heart.

Doerkson also addressed frustration that a deal did not come together between the Conservatives and the BC United party, and called the move the toughest decision of his life.

“Once that came apart and was clearly apart, I felt it necessary to do exactly as residents have made it very clear to me to do and that is move to the Conservative party,” added Doerkson.

BC United is expecting to run a candidate against Doerkson in October, who Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone says will now face some long conversations with voters about his new party.

“Lorne Doerkson is going to have to defend a decision to desert the team with which he was elected and a team that has always supported him. And why he, as part of that decision, has decided to align himself with John Rustad and a whole bunch of John Rustad’s candidates that have very extreme views on a whole wide range of issues,” said Stone.

Stone noted that himself along with local candidates Jackie Tegart in Fraser-Nicola and Peter Milobar in Kamloops Centre have no plans of crossing to the Conservatives.