New B.C. Party
Five Former B.C. Conservative Lawmakers Form New Provincial Political Party
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Key Points
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The departing legislators cited ideological and strategic differences with Kerry-Lynne Findlay, who won the Conservative leadership in a narrow vote in May, as the backdrop to the caucus exodus.
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Interim leader Peter Milobar said the new party has received “overwhelming” support from across the province and that “the appetite for it is undeniable.”
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Bruce Banman said the party aims to give right-of-centre voters an option other than the B.C. Conservatives, saying, “British Columbians want options, and we intend to give them a strong one.”
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The four other legislators who recently left the Conservative caucus—Donegal Wilson, Scott McInnis, Teresa Wat and Brennan Day—have not said whether they will join the new party or remain independent.
Five B.C. Conservative MLAs are launching a new provincial party to challenge both Premier David Eby's NDP and Kerry-Lynne Findlay's Conservatives. Peter Milobar, Ian Paton, Rosalyn Bird, Bruce Banman, and Á'a:líya Warbus left the Conservative caucus over ideological differences and plan to seek official third-party status in the legislature Global News.
The group positions itself as a stable, right-of-centre option focused on the economy, health care, and affordability. Milobar will serve as interim leader until a leadership vote before the legislature resumes October 5. The five-member caucus says it has at most two years to become election-ready Juno News.
Conservative Caucus Splits Over Leadership Direction
Nine B.C. Conservative lawmakers have left the party caucus since Kerry-Lynne Findlay won the leadership vote in May. The departing legislators cited ideological and strategic disagreements with Findlay's direction. The five MLAs forming the new party represent the most coordinated faction of the exodus Victoria Buzz.
Interim leader Milobar said the new party has received "overwhelming" support across the province. He stressed that British Columbians want a genuine alternative on the right side of the political spectrum iPolitics.
New Party Offers Right-of-Centre Voters a Choice
Bruce Banman, one of the five founding MLAs, explained the party's purpose: "British Columbians want options, and we intend to give them a strong one." The new party will focus on taxation, land rights, health care, and economic growth Delta Optimist.
The party strategy aims to capitalize on Conservative voters who feel disconnected from Findlay's leadership. By establishing itself before the next provincial election, the five MLAs hope to build a credible alternative that appeals to fiscally conservative voters dissatisfied with both the NDP and the current Conservative direction Global News.
Four Other Former Conservatives Remain in Limbo
Donegal Wilson, Scott McInnis, Teresa Wat, and Brennan Day also recently left the Conservative caucus but have not said whether they will join the new party or remain independent. Their decision could significantly affect the new party's legislative standing and credibility Juno News.
The new party needs to register with Elections BC and establish formal party structures before the legislature returns. With fewer than two years until the next election, the five founding members face a tight timeline to recruit candidates, raise funds, and build brand recognition among voters iPolitics.
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