Conservative leadership candidate Peter Milobar jumped out to an early lead in caucus endorsements this week, picking up the support of five of the party’s top critics, and giving him a big boost of momentum early in the race.
MLAs Gavin Dew, Brennan Day, Ward Stamer, Scott McInnis, and Kiel Giddens lined up behind Milobar on the front steps of the legislature Wednesday, saying the MLA for Kamloops-Centre is the best choice to replace John Rustad as leader of the BC Conservatives.
“He is the leader that can unify our caucus, our party and also the province around a right of center alternative to the NDP to win the next election,” said Giddens, who represents Prince George-Mackenzie.
The five MLAs are the first elected Conservatives to endorse any of the 11 candidates for leader. They represent communities across the province, including on Vancouver Island, the Interior and the North.
“He knows the issues the best coming from rural B.C.,” said McInnis, from Columbia River-Revelstoke. “In the East Kootenays, we have very unique challenges compared to the Lower Mainland, the Island, even the Okanagan.”
Early endorsements may give Milobar an edge
In theory, the endorsements give Milobar an early edge in the race because MLAs should be able to deliver the required Conservative member votes to win their ridings. That’s important, because each riding has up to 100 points available, and securing broad support in as many of the 93 ridings as possible is key to victory.
Still, it’s an open question how many of the BC Conservative’s 39 MLAs actually control their ridings enough to swing members towards a candidate with an endorsement.
Some MLAs were parachuted into ridings by the party, while others won based on the surge in the Conservative brand. Few did the ground work required to set up robust riding associations, membership lists and proactive local executives.
However, the five MLAs who endorsed Milobar so far are among the party’s most competent. Each has excelled so far in their critic portfolios, with Stamer on forestry, McInnis on Indigenous relations, Giddens on labour and Dew on jobs.
“We all represent different regions, distinct regions, and we’re going to be out there telling our current members and signing up new members to bring them into this party,” said Giddens.
“I’m not telling anybody how to vote,” added Stamer, MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson.
“All of us have a lot of work to do to be able to prove that Peter is the next premier of the province of British Columbia, and if there’s members of our party that would rather vote for somebody else, they can do that.
“But it’s also a ranked ballot, and it’s going to be very difficult for the first ballot… so if Peter’s not your first choice, I hope he’s your second choice.”
More MLA support is coming, says legislator
Day, from Courtenay-Comox, has proven an early breakout star in the caucus, parlaying his critic role on rural and seniors’ health into the Opposition’s de facto health critic. He also helped lead the ouster of Rustad as leader.
“We’re not electing the leader of the party, we’re electing the next premier of this province, and the stakes could not be higher after that disastrous budget,” said Day. “We absolutely need somebody that can walk into the room, get caucus into shape, make sure we’re staying on message, and present a real, clear alternative. And Peter’s that guy.”
Dew, the MLA for Kelowna-Mission, said more caucus endorsements are coming for Milobar.
“There’s a number of us in caucus that are getting behind Peter,” he said. “Some of us are here today. You’ll see more of us coming forward in the days ahead.”
Crowded field of leadership hopefuls
Other frontrunners in the Conservative race so far include political pundit Dr. Caroline Elliott, former BC Liberal cabinet minister Iain Black and Langley-Abbotsford MLA Harman Bhangu.
Milobar is attempting to carve out ground as the more moderate choice in the race. A former BC Liberal MLA, the 55-year-old has not pursued an aggressive cultural conservative path in the race, and has leaned into expanding the party’s base beyond its current ideology.
Whether it’s the right choice, will be determined when the race concludes May 30.
Also running are businessmen Yuri Fulmer and Darrell Jones, former Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay, and Conservative MLAs Sheldon Clare, Bruce Banman and Steve Kooner.