That election saw the collapse of the British Columbia Social Credit Party, which was reduced to seven Members of the Legislative Assembly, four of these seven defected to Reform BC.

Despite attempts to take over Social Credit, Reform BC was unable to absorb it and lay claim to the right of the political spectrum.

Many blamed Reform for splitting the right-wing vote and helping the New Democratic Party of British Columbia under Glen Clark get re-elected.

Following Hanni's resignation, at the November 12–13, 1999 leadership convention, former Social Credit premier Bill Vander Zalm was acclaimed as leader of the party.

Vander Zalm attempted to orchestrate a merger of Reform with other right-wing parties, but ran into stiff opposition from a centrist old guard.

The difference of opinion between the group that left for DRBC and those continuing Reform BC appears to revolve around three issues: The party nominated one candidate to contest the 2005 election: Ron Gamble won 344 votes (1.76% of the total) in North Vancouver-Lonsdale.