Kerry-Lynne Findlay with Chilliwack North MLA Heather Maahs. (Image Credit: Chilliwack North MLA Heather Maahs.)
Leadership announcement

Chilliwack North MLA appointed interim leader of the Official Opposition

Jun 29, 2026 | 10:17 AM

CHILLIWACK – Chilliwack North MLA Heather Maahs has been appointed interim leader of the Official Opposition, the Conservative Party of British Columbia announced Monday morning.

In a statement, Party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay announced Maahs and other MLAs will now occupy new roles within the opposition’s new shadow cabinet.

“I am very honoured to have been chosen by our new B.C. Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Maahs told Fraser Valley Today Monday morning. “Of course, we all want to see her get a seat as soon as possible. However, in the meantime, I’m happy to serve her and the party in this position.”

Back in mid-April, Maahs endorsed Findlay as one of five leadership candidates.

“I am supporting Kerry-Lynne Findlay as the next leader of the B.C. Conservative Party,” Maahs said. “Kerry-Lynne has all the makings of a great leader. She has experience, having served as an MP in the federal government under Stephen Harper. She is a lawyer, and a woman of conviction, with a vision for common sense in government. Kerry-Lynne is what we need right now, a Conservative who will lead this party to victory in the next provincial election.”

Findlay served in the House of Commons between 2011 and 2025, representing the ridings of Delta-Richmond-East once and South Surrey-White Rock twice.

Findlay’s highest cabinet role under former prime minister Stephen Harper was minister of national revenue from July 2013 to November 2015, after having served as associate minister of national defence for five months in 2013, and parliamentary secretary to the minister of justice from May 2011 to February 2013.

She has also held multiple roles with the Canadian Bar Association, and a long list of board positions for charitable and community organizations.

In addition to Maahs’ new role, Sheldon Clare, MLA for Prince George-North Cariboo, is the new official opposition house leader, while MLA Lorne Doerksen (Cariboo-Chilcotin) will be the deputy house leader.

“We are building a big tent party where British Columbians from all walks of life who want to restore our prosperity and our freedoms are welcome,” said Findlay. “My new leadership team represents a unified force from all parts of B.C. that will hold the government to account and lay the foundation to rebuild our great province. The B.C. Conservative Caucus is more united than it has ever been and is ready to take on the NDP when the legislature resumes sitting in the fall, and form government after the next election.”

Rounding out some of the other leadership roles are West Kelowna-Peachland MLA Macklin McCall (opposition whip), Abbotsford-Mission MLA Reann Gasper (deputy whip), and Langley-Willowbrook MLA Jody Toor (caucus chair).

Some of the other announcements include:

  • Caucus Representative to the CPBC Board:  Sharon Hartwell, MLA Bulkley Valley-Stikine
  • Okanagan and Interior Lieutenant:  David Willliams, MLA Salmon Arm-Shuswap
  • Vancouver Island Lieutenant: Anna Kindy, MLA North Island
  • Lower Mainland Lieutenant: Ian Paton, MLA Delta South
  • Stakeholder Relations Lieutenant:  Lawrence Mok, MLA Maple Ridge East
  • Stakeholder Relations Lieutenant:  Steve Kooner, MLA Richmond-Queensborough
  • Stakeholder Relations Lieutenant: Brent Chapman, MLA Surrey South