Surrey MLA Elenore Sturko defects, joins BC Conservatives

Sturko, elected in 2022 under BC United, is the latest gain for the Conservatives, after United Caucus Chair Lorne Doerkson, who represents Cariboo-Chilcotin, defected on Friday.

The official opposition’s run-up to the next election took another hit Monday, as Surrey South MLA Elenore Sturko confirmed she is defecting and joining the BC Conservatives.

Sturko, elected in 2022 under BC United, is the latest gain for the Conservatives, after United Caucus Chair Lorne Doerkson, who represents Cariboo-Chilcotin, defected on Friday.

In a statement shared by the Conservatives, the former RCMP officer explained she is defecting to “rebuild the coalition that’s needed to defeat the NDP.”

The floor-crossing comes after talks between the two right-of-centre parties broke down amid failure to settle on a deal to avoid vote splitting in the fall provincial election.