BC Conservatives hire Alberta separatist and far-right media figure to senior roles

The Conservative Party of BC has hired Apollo Chung, a member of the separatist Republican Party of Alberta, as director of operations and Cosmin Dzsurdzsa, a former writer for the Post Millennial, as caucus communications director. The appointments signal a strategic shift toward far-right politics, according to a University of British Columbia political scientist.

The BC NDP released information about the hires based on an internal government directory. The party criticized the moves as bringing "Trump-style politics" to B.C.

When asked for comment, Dzsurdzsa called The Tyee a "far-left smear outlet" and "literal trash, not journalism."

Stewart Prest, a lecturer in political science at UBC, characterized the hires as part of a "deliberate strategy" to abandon traditional Conservative politics in B.C. in favour of MAGA-style republicanism. "This is not a coincidence or a one-off," he said.

Chung's connection to party leadership is not new. Conservative strategist Anthony Koch questioned his role in April, posting on social media: "Want to know who KLF's de facto campaign manager is right now? Meet Apollo (a.k.a. Paul) Chung." The comment came as leadership candidate Caroline Elliott faced criticism for hiring an Ontario-based strategist.

After the May 30 leadership vote, which Kerry-Lynne Findlay won, a video showed Findlay's raucous after-party with supporters chanting Chung's name.

Prest noted a divide between B.C. and federal Conservatives: federal leader Pierre Poilievre has defended a united Canada while the Alberta separatist movement, led by Cameron Davies, has developed a "five-step plan to achieve Alberta's separation" and sought support from Trump-aligned U.S. politicians.

"It really shouldn't be possible to find common cause with someone who takes the other side of that debate," Prest said, referring to the fundamental question of Alberta remaining in Canada.