VICTORIA — Entrepreneur Yuri Fulmer and commentator Caroline Elliott clashed several times over past statements and actions during the first debate among the remaining candidates for the leadership of the Conservative Party of B.C.

Former Liberal cabinet minister Iain Black, former MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay and current MLA Peter Milobar also took part in the event hosted by the Canada Strong and Free Network conference, but sharp exchanges between Fulmer and Elliott dominated the early phase of the debate.

Fulmer says Elliott has been hostile toward social conservatives and criticized her for skipping out on a debate hosted by a news site, which Premier David Eby later criticized for promoting white supremacy.

The entrepreneur says the NDP has endorsed Elliott’s position on social issues like sexual orientation and gender identity, asking her how she felt about being Eby’s choice.

Elliott responded that Fulmer should stop getting his information from NDP press releases, adding she will always defend social conservative values.

Elliott says Fulmer has abandoned conservative values by making land acknowledgments and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion programs as chancellor of Capilano University.

The sharp exchanges during the early phase of the debate were not lost on the other candidates, including Black.

“I really think we have to remind ourselves that the real enemy is the NDP,” he says. “I admire the spirit, the nature of how we started, but I really do believe that if we get too far down this path, we are going to be offering news clips that are going to bite in the backside in the months to come.”

The five candidates are running to replace former leader John Rustad, who left amid a caucus revolt in December.

The party announced this week that its membership has risen to more than 42,000 people since the start of the leadership campaign in December, when the party had around 7,000 members.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24, 2026.

Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press