Lorne Doerkson

Lorne Doerkson is a Canadian politician who has served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (MLA) since 2020.^[1] Representing the riding of Cariboo-Chilcotin, he is a member of the Conservative Party of British Columbia. He previously served as a member of the BC Liberal Party (later BC United) before crossing the floor to the Conservative Party in 2024.^[2]

Lorne Doerkson MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Cariboo-Chilcotin
Incumbent
Assumed office October 24, 2020
Preceded by	Donna Barnett
Personal details
Political party	BC Conservative (2024–present)
Other political affiliations	BC United (until 2024)
Children	2
Residence(s)	Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada

Early life and career

Lorne Doerkson has lived in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region for nearly three decades. He spent 20 years in the newspaper industry as a publisher with Black Press, focusing on communications and community outreach. After leaving the publishing sector, he transitioned to financial consulting with Investors Group, where he provided financial planning and advisory services.^[3][4]

In addition to his professional roles, Doerkson has been involved with several community organizations, including the Williams Lake Stampede, the Williams Lake Chamber of Commerce, the BC Community Newspaper Association, and the Hough Memorial Cancer Society. He has received two Community Booster awards from the Williams Lake Chamber of Commerce for his contributions to local initiatives.^[5]

Doerkson resides in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region and has raised two daughters there.^[4]

Political career

BC Liberals / BC United

Doerkson was first elected as the MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin in the 2020 British Columbia general election, representing the BC Liberal Party, which rebranded as BC United in 2022.^[1] During his first term, he served as the BC United caucus chair and critic for water, land and resource stewardship and rural development, as well as emergency management and climate readiness.^[6]

BC Conservative Party

In May 2024, Doerkson announced his decision to join the Conservative Party of British Columbia, becoming the party's third member of the legislature.^[6][7] Doerkson was re-elected in the 2024 provincial election with 70.13% of the vote, defeating BC NDP candidate Michael Moses.^[8] In November 2024, he was named assistant deputy speaker of the BC Conservatives.^[9]

Policy positions

Doerkson has prioritized healthcare reform, advocating for increased access to medical services in rural communities. He supports initiatives to fund non-governmental clinics and provide incentives for healthcare professionals to work in high-needs areas.

On environmental issues, Doerkson has called for enhanced forest management, wildfire prevention, and ecosystem restoration efforts, including reforestation and the reduction of glyphosate spraying. He has also emphasized the importance of infrastructure investments to support rural communities.

Doerkson has expressed support for reconciliation with Indigenous communities through financial partnerships and collaborative initiatives, such as cultural centre's and resource development projects.^[4]

Electoral record

v t e 2024 British Columbia general election: Cariboo-Chilcotin
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Conservative	Lorne Doerkson	13,710	69.60	+18.25
	New Democratic	Michael Moses	5,991	30.40	-2.06
Total valid votes			22,224	100.00	–
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered voters
Source: Elections BC
	Conservative hold		Swing

v t e 2020 British Columbia general election: Cariboo-Chilcotin
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Lorne Doerkson	6,600	51.25	−7.52	$29,284.50
	New Democratic	Scott Andrews	4,180	32.46	+6.23	$1,965.55
	Green	David Laing	1,379	10.71	−4.29
	Independent	Katya Potekhina	457	3.55	–	$1,453.00
	Libertarian	James Buckley	263	2.04	–	$0.00
Total valid votes			12,879	100.00	–
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered voters
Source: Elections BC[10][11]