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'I will govern for everyone': B.C. premier-elect Lorne Doerkson lays out priorities of incoming Conservative government

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At a press conference on Sunday afternoon, just hours after his election-night victory, Premier-elect Lorne Doerkson said his incoming Conservative majority administration would begin with an independent review of the Government of British Columbia’s challenging finances.

He also vowed to make his promised income tax cut the first legislative priority, pursue major changes to First Nations relations, and move ahead with plans for a new bridge project to replace the George Massey Tunnel.

Elections BC’s latest preliminary results show the Conservatives leading in 63 of the province’s 93 ridings, putting the party on track for a decisive majority. The BC NDP is ahead in 28 ridings, while the BC Greens lead in two. The election-night seat totals could still change during the final count, scheduled for Nov. 6 to 10, when outstanding mail-in ballots and other ballots not included in the election-night totals will be counted.

Doerkson described the result as a clear demand for change after nearly a decade of the provincial government being led by the BC NDP. At the same time, he also outlined his plans for taking office while promising to represent British Columbians who supported other parties.

“You will have a government that listens to you, works for you, and respects you, however you marked your ballot,” he said.

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“I will remain as leader of the party”

Doerkson also said he would remain as the Conservative leader — and therefore, the premier — when responding to questions raised during the campaign about whether the technicality of his interim party leadership appointment could lead to another internal party leadership race soon after the provincial general election.

He took over in late September 2026, just days after Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s resignation, but the party’s constitution does not allow an interim leader to run for the permanent position. Changing those rules requires a two-thirds vote at an annual or special general meeting of the party.

With all that said, the Conservative party’s board had pledged during the campaign to pursue the changes needed to keep Doerkson as the leader if he became premier. When asked on Sunday how he would move from interim to permanent leader, Doerkson described the matter as merely an “administrative detail” and said more information would be available imminently.

“I will remain as leader of the party, and I’m thrilled to be the premier-elect of British Columbia right now,” emphasized Doerkson.

A longtime Williams Lake resident, Doerkson promised to give rural and northern communities greater attention. He pointed to the consequences of mill closures, emergency rooms shutting at night, and wildfires threatening communities as problems he understood from living in the Interior.

“Under this government, you will never be an afterthought,” he said.

A day after the election victory, the work of forming the provincial government has already begun, ahead of the swearing in of the Conservatives later next month. Doerkson said he had spoken with Lieutenant Governor Wendy Cocchia, and appointed Kim Henderson to chair the government transition team, with briefings from provincial officials beginning in the coming days.

Henderson previously served as deputy minister to the premier, cabinet secretary, and head of the BC Public Service, until 2017. Her earlier roles included deputy minister of finance and secretary to Treasury Board. She will lead the transition as a volunteer and take unpaid leave from Trans Mountain Corporation, where she became interim vice-president in October 2025.

Doerkson also offered a message of cooperation to provincial public servants, the bureaucracy, saying his new Conservative administration would need their experience and judgment.

“When this government is sworn in, it will be ready on day one, and it will hit the ground running,” he said.

“These are serious times, people are stretched, the economy has stalled, and too many British Columbians have stopped believing government can get anything done. My job is to prove them wrong. I will govern for everyone, I will be straight with you about what is working and what is not, and I will be up every morning working on what matters to your family. Strong leadership for serious times, that’s what British Columbians voted for, and that is what they are going to get.”

Examining the provincial government’s financial situation left by the BC NDP, and proceeding with income tax cuts

Immediately after taking office, a financial review would examine the provincial government’s accounts before the Conservatives introduce their first budget. Doerkson pointed to the BC NDP’s forecast of a historic $13.8-billion annual budget deficit for the 2026/2027 fiscal year, followed by $12.7 billion in 2027/2028 and $12 billion in 2028/2029.

Total provincial debt is expected to reach $180.9 billion by the end of this fiscal year and almost $236 billion before the end of this decade. When David Eby first became premier in late 2022, total provincial debt hovered at about $89 billion.

All of this has led to eight credit rating downgrades for the provincial government over the last three years, which also leads to increased borrowing cost pressures.

Doerkson said British Columbians need a clearer picture of the provincial government’s finances, as his administration works towards balancing its budget. He pointed to the billions of dollars spent each year on debt interest alone. If those interest payments were a provincial ministry’s operating budget, it would be the third largest — behind only healthcare and education.

“We need to know where things stand, and so do British Columbians,” he said.

When asked separately whether he would increase the royalties collected from natural gas companies, he said the arrangements would be examined but did not commit to higher rates. He also emphasized expanding economic activity as a source of new additional provincial government revenue, arguing that the contribution of industries such as forestry extends beyond direct resource revenues.

Another key priority when the legislature returns would be raising the basic personal income tax exemption to $32,000 — a major platform promise he made. The change would reduce taxes by about $1,000 annually for nearly every working British Columbian. But it is unclear how his administration would mitigate the resulting impacts to the provincial budget.

“We said we will not raise your taxes, and we will not,” he said emphatically.

On healthcare, Doerkson said his administration would establish an expert commission within its first 100 days to address emergency room closures and reduce waiting times.

The premier-elect also addressed BC Greens leader Emily Lowan’s attacks on the Conservatives and warnings during her election-night victory speech, raising fears that his administration would cut services. In response, Doerkson argued that vulnerable British Columbians had already been placed at risk under the BC NDP-led provincial government and said he remained committed to increasing frontline support.

“We have said, and we will continue to say, and I will continue to say, that we are committed to fully funding publicly accessible health care in this province,” he said.

On childcare, he said the Conservatives intend to continue the BC NDP’s $10-a-day program and pursue a potential expansion with the federal government. He identified private facilities as another potential source of spaces and said involving them could be particularly helpful in rural B.C.

Repealing DRIPA

Doerkson also reaffirmed his intention to repeal the BC NDP’s highly controversial Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), while saying he wants to build relationships with First Nations.

Passed unanimously by the legislature in 2019, DRIPA requires the provincial government to bring all of B.C.’s laws into alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Following a consequential appeal court ruling in December 2025, Eby had originally committed to amending DRIPA during the Spring 2026 legislative session — a commitment he later ultimately walked back on, after flip flopping for months on the direction he was prepared to make.

“I think that there is a major opportunity for all of British Columbia to succeed on what is going to be a better path forward,” said Doerkson.

“I am still committed to the repeal of DRIPA. It has not worked in this province and frankly, it has caused more problems to date than I think potentially anything else.”

Pressed on how he would work with First Nations while repealing legislation they have defended, Doerkson said he would pursue new relationships with them.

“I will take a meeting with First Nations any day that we can grow a partnership and a friendship together, and I am fully committed to that,” he said.

When asked about the timing and mechanics of repealing DRIPA and what would replace the legislation, Doerkson said he wanted to act as soon as possible and suggested the Spring 2027 legislative session. A brief Fall 2026 sitting of the legislature remains possible, but Doerkson did not commit to one. He said the provincial election had only just ended and there was considerable work to do before deciding whether to recall the legislature this fall.

Building a new 10-lane bridge for the George Massey Tunnel replacement

For the change in approach to finally achieve one of B.C.’s largest transportation infrastructure projects, Doerkson reaffirmed that he intends to pivot back to the previous 10-lane bridge concept — controversially cancelled by John Horgan’s BC NDP administration in 2017 — to replace the aging George Massey Tunnel. The BC NDP’s current eight-lane immersed tunnel project would be cancelled.

When asked about the site preparation and early construction work currently underway, he said that work should continue, at least for now, while emphasizing that a bridge would be cheaper and that experts had helped guide his party’s decision.

“They should continue their [early] work, but the reality is that I am committed to that bridge. It is cheaper to do. We’ve had experts that have guided us on that decision,” he said.

Doerkson said residents were frustrated by the prolonged wait for a seismic-safe replacement crossing with greater capacity, and argued that the original 10-lane bridge should have been built years earlier.

He also questioned the immersed tunnel project’s ability to proceed without an environmental assessment certificate, which was originally expected by late 2024 or early 2025 when the environmental review first began in 2021. Major construction work was supposed to begin in 2026, but this entirely depends on receiving the environmental assessment certificate.

Earlier this year, Eby’s administration announced they had terminated the original European contractor selected in 2024 to design, build, and partially finance the immersed tunnel — driven by the growing cost pressures of remaining with that contractor — and restarted the entire bidding process, with the major construction work split into five smaller contracts as opposed to one big contract. Some of the separate bidding processes for those contractors will not begin until 2027.

Currently, the project is without any major contractors, with Eby’s administration pegging the project’s updated cost at $8.5 billion this past summer — up from the original figure of $4.15 billion about five years ago.

“You cannot proceed with the project the way it is, and in its current form,” said Doerkson.

New oil pipeline, natural resource development, and the economy

The ongoing trade conflict with the United States was another major focus. Doerkson described it as B.C.’s greatest economic threat and said expanding investment and finding new export markets would be central to his response.

He said some of his first calls as premier would be to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to advance the working group for the proposed new Pacific Link oil pipeline from the Edmonton area to a new export terminal facility in Metro Vancouver. He also pointed to expanded liquefied natural gas development, more energy exports to Asia, and approving major projects as ways to strengthen B.C.’s economy.

In a separate answer about U.S. tariffs, Doerkson said he intended to hold a business summit in Vancouver next summer to attract international investment. He said he had already spoken with people interested in investing in the province.

He also identified tourism, agriculture, and B.C.’s beer, wine and spirits industries as sectors with opportunities for growth. He argued that a stronger economy would leave the province better able to withstand outside economic pressure.

When asked what else he wanted to discuss with Prime Minister Carney, Doerkson pointed to infrastructure funding for rapidly growing cities and stronger cooperation between the federal government and B.C.s industries.

As for the continued precarious situation with the future of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Doerkson acknowledged that he did not yet have a plan to keep the club in the city, but said he wanted to speak with the team. The provincially-owned and operated BC Place Stadium remains a major challenge for the club.

“I don’t know the plan going forward, but I do want to have a conversation with the Whitecaps because trust me when I say this, British Columbia loves the Whitecaps,” he said.

Doerkson says the Conservatives are now unified

Doerkson was also asked how he would reconcile differences between more moderate MLAs and socially conservative members of his expanded caucus.

In stark contrast to the state of the party just over a month ago, even during the final weeks and days of Findlay’s leadership, he asserted that the Conservative party was now united and said he would work with all of its MLAs to build a respectful caucus that treats British Columbians with dignity.

“Look, we are unified in a way that I’ve never seen in our party before, and that includes going back years,” he said.

He said the conduct of cabinet ministers, caucus members, and political staff would matter alongside the policies they deliver.

“I expect the highest standard of conduct from every member of our team, and I will hold myself to it first.”

He also promised to introduce the new “Respect Local Democracy Act” early in the term to prevent future provincial general elections from overlapping with civic elections. He repeated his criticism of Eby’s decision to call a snap provincial election, with two years remaining in the BC NDP-led provincial government’s mandate and while municipal campaigns were underway.

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