Doerkson calls snap election cynical, says repealing Indigenous rights law is his top priority
BC Conservative interim leader Lorne Doerkson said on September 22 that he would repeal BC's law aligning provincial rules with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, calling that his first priority if elected on October 24.
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BC Conservative interim leader Lorne Doerkson said on September 22 that his top priority if elected on October 24 would be repealing BC's law aligning provincial rules with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Abbotsford News reported. He also called Premier David Eby's decision to call a snap election "cynical."
Doerkson made the statements at a news conference in Vancouver, hours after Eby announced the October 24 vote.
The law Doerkson wants to repeal
The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act is a BC law passed under the NDP. It requires the provincial government to align its laws and policies with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, an international agreement. Doerkson said: "The reality is, is that we need clarity on policies that have been put in place over the last decades to get things moving in this province."
He also said his party has a "100 per cent" role in addressing anti-Indigenous racism and committed to keeping that view out of his own public statements.
His position on the election and the economy
Doerkson said he is running to be premier, not simply filling the role while the party finds a permanent leader. He was appointed interim leader after Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned on September 20. Party rules require members to ratify his leadership before it becomes permanent.
On the economy, Doerkson said: "I blame what's happening in our industry sectors right now on David Eby and the NDP," arguing that the NDP government had years to improve conditions in BC's resource sectors and failed. The Abbotsford News article did not carry a response from Eby to this claim.
What voters can do
Voters considering the Conservative Party of BC can compare its priorities with those of other parties at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/conservative-party-of-bc. Advance voting runs October 16 to 21. Election day is Saturday, October 24.
Questions this story answers
What did Lorne Doerkson say about Indigenous rights law?
On September 22, 2026, Doerkson told the Abbotsford News that repealing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act would be his first priority if elected premier on October 24. That law aligns BC's provincial rules with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Doerkson said: 'The reality is, is that we need clarity on policies that have been put in place over the last decades to get things moving in this province.' He also said his party has a '100 per cent' role in addressing anti-Indigenous racism.
What is the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act?
The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act is a BC law passed under the NDP government. It requires the provincial government to align its laws and policies with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, an international agreement setting out the rights of Indigenous peoples worldwide. Doerkson says the law creates uncertainty for resource industries and has pledged to repeal it if elected.
How did Doerkson describe the snap election call?
Doerkson called Premier David Eby's decision to call a snap election on September 22 'cynical,' according to the Abbotsford News. He said Eby was taking political advantage of the timing, and criticized the NDP's comparison of wildfires to trade disputes. Eby has not responded publicly to Doerkson's characterization in the Abbotsford News article.
What did Doerkson say about BC's resource industries?
Doerkson said he blames Eby and the NDP for problems in BC's resource industries, stating: 'I blame what's happening in our industry sectors right now on David Eby and the NDP.' He argued the NDP government had the opportunity over the past decade to improve conditions in those industries and did not. The Abbotsford News article did not carry a response from Premier Eby to this claim.
Is Doerkson running to be premier or just serving as interim leader?
Doerkson said on September 22 that he is running to be premier. He was appointed interim leader after Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned the position on September 20. The Abbotsford News reported that party rules require member ratification before the role becomes permanent, but Doerkson stated clearly: 'I am running to be premier.' You can see his candidate profile at [/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/lorne-doerkson](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/lorne-doerkson).
When is BC's voting day?
The BC provincial election is on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs October 16 to 21, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. Nominations for all 93 ridings close October 3 at 1 p.m. Pacific time. You can register to vote at elections.bc.ca.
Who was Kerry-Lynne Findlay?
Kerry-Lynne Findlay was the BC Conservative Party leader who resigned on Sunday, September 20, 2026, two days before Premier Eby called the snap election. Doerkson was appointed interim leader by party board members after her departure. The party had previously lost 14 MLAs from its caucus before Findlay's resignation.
Where can I read about the Conservative Party of BC's platform?
You can read about the Conservative Party of BC and its candidates at [/bc/provincial-2026/parties/conservative-party-of-bc](/bc/provincial-2026/parties/conservative-party-of-bc). Lorne Doerkson's candidate profile is at [/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/lorne-doerkson](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/lorne-doerkson). The party's full platform is available at conservativebc.ca.
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