---
title: "Several BC Conservative candidates limiting media access on eve of election"
description: "BC Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson went three days without a press conference, and several Conservative candidates declined debates or barred reporters from election-night events."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/conservative-candidates-limit-media-access-election-eve-2026"
last_updated: "2026-10-23T19:25:39.175Z"
---

Several BC Conservative candidates and leader Lorne Doerkson restricted reporter access in the final days of the provincial campaign, Abbotsford News reported on October 23.

[Doerkson](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/lorne-doerkson) held no press conference between Monday and Thursday of election week. On Thursday he took questions for under 20 minutes, then held a large rally in Surrey without taking questions. No press conference was planned for Friday, the last full campaign day before voting day on October 24.

Doerkson said at his Thursday appearance: "The reality is we've been in front of media often, and my focus is of course being in front of British Columbians."

NDP leader David Eby took questions from reporters at least once per day for almost every day of the campaign. Eby said: "The Conservative leader has been missing in action for the last few days. I understand he's appearing today. I'm glad he's okay."

## Candidates who limited access

Abbotsford News reported that [Chilliwack North candidate Heather Maahs](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/heather-maahs) did not attend an all-candidates debate on October 13. Organizers had expected her. An empty seat with her name was left at the table. She did not reply when asked by the reporter why she skipped.

[West Kelowna-Peachland candidate Macklin McCall](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/macklin-mccall) asked that no reporters attend his election-night event. His team said he wanted "a quiet and special moment" for his campaign volunteers.

Kelowna Centre incumbent [Kristina Loewen's](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/kristina-loewen) staff told the Kelowna Capital News that reporters at her event would not be able to ask questions. North Delta candidate [Monica Mohan](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/monica-mohan) did not reply to the North Delta Reporter's candidate questionnaire.

The Conservative Party told Abbotsford News that candidates limiting media contact did so on their own, not by party directive.

## What voters can do

Voting day is October 24, 2026. Find your voting place through Elections BC at elections.bc.ca. Candidate pages for this election are at [/bc/provincial-2026](/bc/provincial-2026).

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/bc/provincial-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.