Findlay's chief of staff resigns to avoid becoming 'distraction' ahead of byelection

Chris Delaney has resigned as Kerry-Lynne Findlay's chief of staff over fears he could become a "distraction" during her upcoming byelection.

Now-former MLA Reann Gasper, whose seat Findlay is trying to fill, has been promoted to Delaney's position.

"This by-election will decide the future of BC," Delaney wrote in a statement, suggesting that the province would descend into "a monstrous hybrid of 'soft' tyranny and dictatorship with remnants of a past democracy" if Findlay loses. "Because the stakes are so high, I decided to step away rather than become a distraction from Kerry-Lynne winning this by-election."

He made it clear that his decision to step away should not be viewed as a reflection of his support for Findlay — on the contrary he said he is "more committed than ever to her success."

Delaney went on to refer to the numerous MLAs who have left the party in recent weeks as "enemies of democracy," suggesting they are "determined to prevaricate, misrepresent, mischaracterize, and outright lie to try to stop Kerry-Lynne from standing in their way of delivering BC into their hands."

Nine have quit to sit as Independents in the past 19 days.

Findlay, meanwhile, is also facing accusations that she and her team attempted to offer MLAs jobs in exchange for giving up their seats so she could run. The RCMP have been in contact with at least one MLA, Ian Paton, who left the party in August.

"An allegation is not proof," Findlay said in a statement. "Political opponents repeating an allegation does not make it true. Anonymous accounts posting material online do not determine guilt or innocence in this country. I categorically reject any suggestion that I engaged in illegal or unethical conduct."