Q1. Congratulations on your election as leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia. What message do you believe your victory sends about the direction British Columbians want the province to take?
Thank you for your kind words. Our victory is a victory over the extremism and incompetence of the NDP. The people of British Columbia have had enough, and they want a leader who will fight for them instead of against them.
Q2. Your leadership race focused heavily on affordability, economic growth, and public safety. Of all the promises you made, which would be your top priority on day one if you become B.C.'s premier?
To be an effective Premier and leader of a new government, you need to prioritize a number of issues, and the three you mentioned here will all be among our top priorities. We also want to focus on restoring people's freedoms: the freedom to succeed, the freedom to think for yourself, the freedom to take care of your family without government coercion, and the freedom to enjoy your property and all the beautiful land, rivers, lakes, and oceans around us.
Q3. You have pledged to suspend provincial and regional gas taxes for at least 12 months. Given the province's fiscal challenges, how would you offset the loss in revenue while maintaining essential services?
We will immediately free up all our resources - energy, mining, forestry, and hydroelectricity - for development. British Columbia should be the richest place on Earth! We have everything we need to be prosperous; we just have to get government out of the way. We can do that while still taking care of the environment. The two can work together so that we all succeed and create more wealth to pay for lower taxes, improved health care, better schools, and other essential services.
Q4. In your victory speech, you spoke about reversing what you called the NDP's "economic vandalism." What specific policies do you believe have hurt B.C.'s economy the most, and what are the top 3 policies you would implement to get the province back on track?
There are a number of policies, such as the overregulation of mining, forestry, and energy, that are stifling our economy. Deregulation, faster approvals for development, and bringing billions of dollars in lost investment back to British Columbia are among the most important ways we can get the province back on track.
Q5. Public safety remains a growing concern for many British Columbians, particularly with rising concerns around violent crime, gang activity, and extortion targeting businesses. What concrete measures would a Findlay government implement to make communities safer?
The number one factor driving increased crime in British Columbia is the illegal drug trade and the foreign gangs that perpetuate it. We must regain control of our ports and shut down the illicit drug trade, human trafficking, and lawlessness that have been allowed to flourish under the NDP, who care more about the rights of criminals than they do about the rights of their victims.
Q6. You have promised to defend private property rights, particularly in light of recent Aboriginal title rulings in British Columbia. How do you balance the protection of private property with the province's commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples?
Private property is only one component of the out-of-control land claims issue. What good is a person's private property if an unelected and unaccountable third party has control over the street your house is on, the parks where your children play, or the roads, rivers, ports, forests, lakes, and other supporting infrastructure? All of these could be controlled by someone you cannot even vote out if you disagree with their decisions. We must bring reality back to this situation by defending the interests of all the people of British Columbia, rather than just a small group.
Q7. You have called for repealing DRIPA and restoring greater certainty for investment and resource development. How would you pursue economic growth while maintaining respectful and productive relationships with First Nations communities?
The responsibility for treaties rests with the federal government. The Government of British Columbia's responsibility is to look out for the interests of all British Columbians, and that is exactly what we will do.
Q8. Your campaign emphasized "faith, family, and freedom" and stronger protections for free expression. How do you ensure these principles resonate with and represent the diverse communities that make up modern British Columbia?
Faith is something that many people hold. It means respecting people of all faiths and all people of goodwill. Family is the building block of every society, and we will support and protect the rights of families. Freedom is what Canada was built on. The NDP does not understand these principles because they seek to impose policies on people that they would otherwise never voluntarily accept. We will respect everyone's freedom to believe, to make their own choices, and to live as free citizens without unnecessary government coercion.
Q9. Your leadership win came after a closely contested and at times divisive race, with differing views emerging within the BC Conservatives. How will you bridge those internal divisions and ensure the party presents a united front to voters going into the next election?
I have been meeting individually with members of my caucus over the past several weeks. We had an incredibly successful and unifying Caucus Retreat in Penticton last week, where I laid out my vision for the party and the province, and the entire caucus came together, including my former leadership rivals. The party is now completely united and ready to form government and save our province.
Q10. Looking ahead to the next provincial election, what do you believe is the single biggest issue that will determine whether British Columbians choose change or stay the course with the current government?
The economy and property rights will be front and center, no matter who takes over the helm from David Eby. Their entire party is incompetent and has failed British Columbians. Unfortunately, that will only get worse because their socialist ideology has failed everywhere it has ever been tried.
