Businessman Yuri Fulmer announces prospective candidacy to lead B.C. Conservatives

A businessman from West Vancouver, Yuri Fulmer jokes that he's no stuffed shirt.

“When I started in business, I was behind the counter at an A&W with eight other employees wearing a very polyester uniform, making a lot of teen burgers all day long," he said.

Born in Perth, Australia, Fulmer ended up owning dozens of A&W franchises across Western Canada, along with a number of other businesses.

On Tuesday, he announced his prospective candidacy for the B.C. Conservative Party leadership, using his own backstory and his focus on affordability as key parts of his message.

“I was able to buy a home, I was able to buy a car, I was able to start a family. You know, those things aren’t available to British Columbians anymore," said Fulmer.

"I’ve been engaged in community, I’ve been engaged in business throughout the province ... I’m ready to go and I’m ready to bring the skills that I’ve spent 30 years building in this beautiful province to serve."

Fulmer is the chancellor of Capilano University and was a candidate for the provincial Conservatives in the 2024 provincial election, losing narrowly to B.C. Green Jeremy Valeriote in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky.

In that election, the Conservatives came within a few seats of forming government, but have since been dogged by a number of defections or dismissals from the party that culminated with former leader John Rustad resigning in December, and debates over what the party's future focus should be.

“We have focused on culture war issues and, and at the same time we have a group of MLA's and there's a part of the base that wants to focus on fiscal issues," said Angelo Isidorou, executive director of the party.

"I really fundamentally believe we can walk and chew gum at the same time.”

Fulmer seems to want to focus on the fiscal issues: after speaking about affordability multiple times, he was asked if he would also focus his campaign on social issues like sex education curriculum or freedom of speech.

“It's not about my agenda, it's about the agenda that British Columbians tell me is important to them," he said.

"And really what I hear from them is it's about affordability, it's about healthcare, it's about public safety, and it's about the economy. And those are the things I'm going to focus on," adding that property right questions being raised from the Cowichan Tribes decision would also be a priority.

A number of other people are considering candidacies, including MLAs Peter Milobar and Harman Bhangu, former Conservative MPs Kerry-Lynne Findlay and Iain Black, Independent Contractors and Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) President Chris Gardner and political commentator Caroline Elliott.