VANCOUVER –North Island-Powell River MP Aaron Gunn has officially announced that he will not seek the leadership of the B.C. Conservative Party, ending weeks of speculation regarding a potential bid for the provincial role. In a statement released on Christmas Eve, Gunn explained that his decision was rooted in a commitment to his constituents and the current political climate in Ottawa.
He expressed concern that his departure from federal politics could inadvertently shift the balance of power, potentially assisting the Liberal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney in securing a majority. Gunn emphasized that while the risk of his resignation affecting the federal government might be small, it was not a gamble he was willing to take at this critical juncture. This leadership vacancy follows the recent and forced resignation of John Rustad, who stepped down after twenty party MLAs signed a letter expressing a lack of confidence in his leadership.
Although Gunn has ruled himself out as a candidate, he stated that he does not intend to remain silent during the upcoming race, noting that thousands of British Columbians have reached out to him seeking a representative voice. As the B.C. Conservatives move forward under interim leader Trevor Halford, the focus now shifts to other potential contenders, including MLAs Gavin Dew, Harman Bhangu, and Peter Milobar, as well as former federal MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay and former Pattison Food Group president Darrell Jones.
