THE BC NDP said on Thursday that the B.C. Prosperity Project separatist group says they helped Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s leadership bid because of direct conversations indicating that she is sympathetic to separatism.

Asked on social media if Findlay will support secession, the group said “I believe she will from conversations with her.”

The group actively campaigned for Findlay during the leadership race, arguing “she is the only one that would” support independence, encouraging group members to buy memberships to support her. Findlay follows the group on X.

Last week, Findlay attended a Danielle Smith fundraiser and said she understood “frustration behind things like the (Alberta) referendum.” She promised to work with and “maintain relations” with an independent Alberta. Alberta Prosperity Project Leader Jeffrey Rath called Findlay’s comments “measured, reasonable and helpful.”

MLAs who were on Findlay’s leadership team, including her husband Brent Chapman, are members of separatist groups on Facebook. Chapman is in several pro-separation Facebook groups including: “Western Independence Party of British Columbia” and “WEXITmovement.com.”

The NDP said that last year, Findlay supporter David Williams posted a map on his Facebook page envisioning B.C. and Alberta separate from Canada as a ‘protectorate’ of the U.S.

Ravi Parmar, NDP MLA for Langford-Highlands, said: “Kerry-Lynne Findlay narrowly won the leadership while being supported by this group, which says they’ve discussed separation with her directly. What did she say to this group behind closed doors to get their support? There’s only one good answer to the question of breaking up Canada, and that’s ‘hell no.’ Any challenges we have within our country will be solved by coming together, not pulling us apart.”