The Conservative Party of British Columbia—BC’s Official Opposition party—is undergoing a thorough shaking right now, with a number of MLAs leaving the party to sit as independents. That division—now unfolding—should cause Christians to think carefully about pragmatic coalitions. Since the last provincial election, the BC Conservative Caucus has lost 16 sitting members. In 2024, the BC Conservative Party—after uncomfortably merging with the former BC Liberals—elected 44 members, just a few seats short of a majority. They now have 28.

The recent defectors—with several announcing plans to form a “new” party—have certainly undermined the momentum that normally would result with the election of a new leader. Kerry-Lynne Findlay was elected by party members on May 30, 2026 with 51% of the vote. Obviously, those MLAs who have now left the party are not her supporters. Whatever one thinks about the individual disagreements, the ongoing fracture exposes the difficulty of holding together people with substantially different convictions under one political banner.

I have come and gone from the Conservative Party of BC and, over many years of involvement, have seen firsthand the dysfunction, division, discouragement and infighting that can exist from the grassroots through every level of the organization. I have also seen principled voices, including my own many times over, and uncomfortable truths resisted or pushed aside when they became politically inconvenient. I wish more people had the opportunity to learn what I have learned through repeated experience, because many others, both within and outside the party, are once again encountering those same realities themselves. They have placed their hopes in political realignment or in a new voice promising hope, only to find themselves again disappointed, disillusioned and searching for something more firmly grounded.

We have seen this cycle before. Political movements divide, people leave, new alliances are formed, and another attempt is made to unite around a common political objective.

What is the point of repeatedly rebuilding political coalitions on the same unstable foundation? Why would we expect a different result? Is this not simply repeating the same mistake?

The answer to a fractured political coalition is not simply another coalition. The deeper question is whether there is an enduring foundation upon which genuine political unity can be built. Political pragmatism is real. Parties want to win elections, attract voters, hold coalitions together and form government. Leaders face pressure from within their parties and from polling, media, lobby groups, donors, activists, advisors and changing public opinion. Eventually the question seems to shift from “What is true and right?” to “What can we say, what can we pass, and what will people vote for?”

There are sincere Christians and principled people serving within mainstream political parties—both federal and provincial—and we should support those willing to courageously stand for truth. But good Christians inside a political structure do not change the foundation upon which that structure operates. When biblical conviction collides with political compromise, the limitations of that secular structure become very real.

This is why our foundation matters. The Christian Heritage Party stakes its purpose and existence on the unchanging foundation of biblical truth and the recognition of Christ as our Lawgiver and the source of truth. Biblical truth is not intended to be one influence competing with many others. It is the foundation upon which our principles are established and from which our policies must flow. Strategy may change. Circumstances may change. Policy applications may require wisdom. But the foundation cannot be changed simply to attract more votes. Abandoning our biblical foundation would nullify our reason to exist as a party.

It’s true that holding firmly to our foundation has kept some pragmatic citizens from joining us and that’s a pity. But thankfully, our hope is not in the CHP or in political popularity. Our hope is in Jesus Christ.

Christ established His ekklesia, (His church, His gathered people), to be salt and light in a fallen world. Those who serve Christ cannot simply label politics “secular” and use that as an excuse to withdraw from the responsibilities Scripture clearly gives us. Politics is the avenue through which laws are written, governments are elected, the vulnerable are protected or neglected, and justice is upheld or denied. But politics itself is not the Christian goal.

Our calling is to pursue righteousness and justice, defend what is good, restrain evil, care for the vulnerable, uphold truth, and to bring the hope and love of Christ into every part of society. Political engagement is one important arena where that calling must be lived out.

When Christians take costly stands for biblical truth, will the Body of Christ stand behind them, or will churches and believers remain silent and disengaged because politics has become uncomfortable? We cannot expect Christians to carry these convictions into government while leaving them unsupported when faithfulness carries a political cost.

Neither should we repeatedly send believers into political structures built upon another foundation and assume that individual Christians alone can restore biblical policies. Perhaps it is time to support those political institutions where the biblical foundation is already established?

The CHP provides a political vehicle through which biblical principles can be represented rather than being surrendered to political expediency. It can preserve a prophetic voice even when truth is unpopular and provide a home for Christians who are prepared to choose principles over pragmatism.

Truth does not become true when enough people vote for it. Christ is our hope. Biblical truth is our foundation. We Christians must be willing to carry righteousness, justice, truth and the love of Christ into society. And when our calling leads into politics, we need to build, support and stand behind a political voice that refuses to abandon its foundation simply to gain power.

Editor’s Note: Christian McCay is the current Leader of CHP-BC, the provincial wing of the Christian Heritage Party in British Columbia.