DAWSON CREEK, B.C. – The political shakeup within British Columbia’s opposition ranks appears set to continue, with former cabinet minister and Kamloops MLA Peter Milobar announcing he has joined CentreBC.
Milobar will become the party’s new leader, while current leader and former Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier is expected to run the party’s campaign.
CentreBC held no seats in the B.C. legislature before Friday’s announcement, but Milobar’s group joining forces gives them eight sitting MLAs.
Previously, Milobar was announced as leader of a group of independent MLAs who left Findlay’s caucus, including Ian Paton, but the potential party was nameless.
After being named as CentreBC party leader, Milobar introduced Elenore Sturko as one of the party’s newest members and said more MLAs are weighing their decisions and could soon join CentreBC.
Further, he said he invited any MLAs unhappy with their current leadership to do the same.
“Let’s face it, it’s a you-know-what show going on with the B.C. Conservatives right now,” he said. “Their leader seems to be expelling members left, right and centre.”
“There is no doubt that that was always the plan to remove any and all members that are considered not extreme right enough, and by either not signing nomination papers or by moving forward and kicking them out of the caucus on the eve of an election.”
After Friday’s announcement, 17 MLAs are believed to be sitting independent. It remains to be seen which members Milobar is referring to who may soon join CentreBC.
CentreBC candidate Lakhwinder Jhaj is running against Findlay in the Abbotsford-Mission byelection on Sept. 26, and Milobar said the party will soon have candidates all over the province.
The move comes amid growing turmoil within the B.C. Conservative Party caucus, which has seen a series of high-profile departures in recent weeks.
Conservatives lose three more MLA’s
Three more B.C. Conservative MLAs—including two former leaders—are “no longer affiliated” with the party, according to the legislature clerk’s office.
The office was notified Friday that Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad, Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford and Skeena MLA Claire Rattée were out of the Conservative caucus.
Unlike the nine MLAs who have recently quit the party—all citing concerns about leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay—it’s unclear whether these three left of their own volition.
Kerry-Lynne Findlay issued a statement Friday that said, “Effective immediately, Trevor Halford, Claire Rattée, and John Rustad will no longer serve as members of the Conservative Party of British Columbia Caucus.”
Rattée issued a statement Friday morning accusing Findlay of “attempting to oust members of her own caucus,” something the MLA argued she “does not have the authority” to do.
“I was elected as a B.C. Conservative MLA and that’s not going to change. I’m not going anywhere. I will continue to fight for the people of Skeena and British Columbia,” Rattée added.
The latest shrinking of the party comes amid growing speculation B.C. Premier David Eby intends to call a snap election.
Rattée described the alleged effort to expel members as “yet another example” of Findlay “demonstrating poor judgement that doesn’t befit someone who is attempting to become premier.”
Findlay faced calls to resign at an emergency caucus meeting this week, during which allegations emerged that a private investigator had been hired to snoop on B.C. Conservative critics.
Rattée, who identified herself as one of the targets, said at least 10 members of caucus have now signed a letter calling for Findlay to step down as well.
“Kerry Lynne Findlay must do the right thing and resign—immediately and prior to a snap election,” she said, in her statement. “B.C. Conservative MLAs will not accept her continuing to divide our team when we need to unite and form a government and help the people of British Columbia.”
Neither Halford, who was interim leader prior to Findlay, or Rustad, who led the party within a hair’s breadth of victory in the 2024 provincial election, had addressed their departures by early Friday afternoon.
Bruce Hallsor, lawyer for the B.C. Conservatives, told CTV News this week that the private investigator was hired by a former executive director from the party, and that there were more than two dozen people on the list of alleged targets, including journalist Rob Shaw.
MLA Brennan Day, who left the Conservatives during the recent MLA exodus, said he was targeted as well, and that the revelation reinforced his decision to leave.
“It is impossible to point your guns outward at the government when you’re too busy pointing them inward at your own caucus,” Day said Thursday.
Angelou Isidorou, a different former Conservative executive director, said both he and his company, Fountainhead Communications, were subject to the snooping as well.
Election speculation continues
The caucus turmoil comes amid continued speculation that Premier David Eby could call an early provincial election.
Findlay said Thursday that she would remain leader despite mounting pressure and growing divisions within her caucus.
The announcement involving Milobar and Bernier could mark a significant moment in the ongoing realignment of B.C.’s centre-right political landscape, particularly as former Conservative MLA;s consider their political futures ahead of the province’s next election.
With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Andrew Weichel, James Paracy and Rob Buffam