Conservative MLA logs on to emergency B.C. NDP meeting after accidental email blast
Published 10:13 am Monday, September 21, 2026
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A B.C. NDP caucus staffer sent out a notice of an emergency Sunday night caucus meeting to many MLAs outside the party — presumably by mistake — inviting opposition members to what appeared to be an election strategy session.
At least one B.C. Conservative, Langley-Walnut Grove MLA Misty Van Popta, was able to log on to the 7 p.m. virtual meeting using the Microsoft Teams link provided.
“People were just starting to log in, and then it got really quiet,” Van Popta said. “Because you can see people’s names pop up.”
The meeting appears to have been called to discuss a possible snap election. The email tells caucus members they will hear from “Cheryl and her team,” presumably referring to Cheryl Oates, Premier David Eby’s former chief of staff, now the NDP’s campaign manager.
Van Popta saw a few names, including NDP staffer Matt Hannah, though she could not see everyone’s. She then logged off of her own volition.
“It just shows that they’re being sneaky; they’re having meetings, obviously, to get election-ready for a sneaky election to capitalize on what British Columbians don’t want right now.” Van Popta said.
B.C. Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay quit on Sunday afternoon after several weeks of defections from her party and reports of a growing chorus from within calling for her to resign.
Eby has recently teased the possibility of an election, with many saying he is simply trying to capitalize on the opposition’s weakness. He has confirmed he has hired Oates to run the next campaign. And Elections BC says it is gearing up for a possible snap election.
Conservatives are pushing back on the idea of a snap election while the party is leaderless. Lorne Doerkson is stepping in as interim leader, but a leadership election will still be needed to find a permanent replacement for Findlay.
“If he calls a cynical snap election, he’s doing it for himself, not for British Columbians,” B.C. Conservative MLA Gavin Dew said. “We will defeat him, undo the damage he has done, and restore hope.”
Van Popta said the email mistake shows the NDP is playing “games.”
“They’re clearly showing that they’re not overly organized if they’re sending out invitations to the opposition caucus to join their strategy meetings,” she said.
Van Popta is hopeful a new leader can mend fences and unify the opposition again.
“Hopefully we can bring the band back together,” she said.
Today in BC has reached out the NDP caucus and the premier’s office for comment.
More to come.