{{Short description|Canadian politician}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Lorne Doerkson | assembly = British Columbia Legislative | constituency_AM = Cariboo-Chilcotin | term_start = October 24, 2020 | term_end = | predecessor = Donna Barnett | successor = | party = BC Conservative (2024–present) | birth_date = | birth_place = | occupation = | honorific_suffix = MLA | children = 2 | other_party = {{ubl | BC United (until 2024) }} }}
'''Lorne Doerkson''' {{Small|MLA}} is a Canadian politician who has served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (MLA) representing the electoral district of Cariboo-Chilcotin since 2020. Initially elected as a member of the BC Liberal Party (later BC United), he crossed the floor in 2024 to the Conservative Party.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buffam |first=Robert |date=2024-06-05 |title=B.C. MLAs crossing the floor face big risks, political experts say |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/bc-mlas-crossing-the-floor-face-big-risks-political-experts-say/ |access-date=2026-01-10 |website=CTV News}}</ref>
== Early life and career == 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.<ref>{{cite web |last=Roden |first=Barbara |date=October 19, 2024 |title=Lorne Doerkson re-elected in Cariboo-Chilcotin |url=https://www.wltribune.com/election/lorne-doerkson-re-elected-in-cariboo-chilcotin-7597896 |website=The Williams Lake Tribune |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Davies |first=Patrick |date=October 3, 2024 |title=ELECTION 2024: LORNE DOERKSON |url=https://www.wltribune.com/home/election-2024-lorne-doerkson-7558473 |website=The Williams Lake Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lorne Doerkson at Conservative Party of BC |url=https://www.conservativebc.ca/lorne |website=Conservative Party of BC |language=en}}</ref>
Doerkson resides in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region and has raised two daughters there.<ref name=":1" />
== 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.<ref name=":0">Angie Mindus, [https://www.100milefreepress.net/news/election-2020-early-results-show-close-two-way-race-developing-in-cariboo-chilcotin/ "ELECTION 2020: Preliminary results show Lorne Doerkson elected in Cariboo Chilcotin"]. ''100 Mile Free Press'', October 24, 2020.</ref> 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.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=MacLeod |first=Andrew |date=May 31, 2024 |title=Another BC United MLA Defects to Rustad's Conservatives |url=https://thetyee.ca/News/2024/05/31/Another-BC-United-Defection-Lorne-Doerkson-Rustad-Conservatives/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=The Tyee}}</ref>
=== 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.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Little |first=Simon |date=May 31, 2024 |title=BC United MLA defects to BC Conservatives just months before provincial election |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10537405/bcu-floor-crossing-lorne-doerkson/ |website=Global News}}</ref> Doerkson was re-elected in the 2024 provincial election with 70.13% of the vote, defeating BC NDP candidate Michael Moses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BC election 2024 results: Cariboo-Chilcotin {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10778980/bc-election-2024-results-cariboo-chilcotin/ |access-date=October 20, 2024 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref> In November 2024, he was named assistant deputy speaker of the BC Conservatives.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lamb-Yorski |first=Monica |date=November 22, 2024 |title=Cariboo Chilcotin MLA named B.C. Conservatives assistant deputy speaker |url=https://www.wltribune.com/local-news/cariboo-chilcotin-mla-named-bc-conservatives-deputy-speaker-7663772 |access-date=March 17, 2025 |website=The Williams Lake Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
== Policy positions == {{BLP sources section|date=March 2025}} 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.<ref name=":1" />
== Electoral record == {{Canadian election result/top|BC|2024|Cariboo-Chilcotin|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes|prelim=no}} {{CANelec|BC|Conservative|Lorne Doerkson|13,710|69.60|+18.25|}} {{CANelec|BC|NDP|Michael Moses|5,991|30.40|-2.06|}} {{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|22,224|100.00|–}} {{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|||}} {{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|||}} {{Canadian election result/total|Registered voters|}} {{Canadian election result/source|Source: Elections BC|}} {{Canadian election result/hold|BC|Conservative|}} {{end}} {{2020 British Columbia general election/Cariboo-Chilcotin}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{British Columbia MLAs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Doerkson, Lorne}} Category:BC United MLAs Category:People from the Cariboo Regional District Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:British Columbia Conservative Party MLAs Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia Category:Canadian politicians who switched parties