Former BC Conservative finance critic quits caucus to form new party
“We need to be building that wider coalition.”
—Peter Milobar
Two-and-a-months after an unsuccessful bid for the BC Conservative Party leadership and his subsequent pledge to support newly elected leader, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Peter Milobar quit caucus and the party, and now sits as an Independent.
What changed?
“A lot changed,” Milobar said, citing a misalignment of values with the direction Findlay is taking the party, including “a purge” of caucus and party staff not deemed of the same mind, namely former BC Liberals (which was, despite the name, was the province’s former right-leaning party).
For the first time in nine years and eight leaders, Milobar chose to walk away.
“I’m not known as someone that just flies off the handle or does a knee-jerk decision or reaction. If I got to that place in two-and-a-half months to walk away when I’ve never done that before… perhaps that’s all people need to realize just all the turmoil that is going on behind the scenes, and will continue to go [on].
“And I didn’t want to be a part of that.”
Milobar’s departure initiates exodus from Conservative caucus
Ten days after Milobar quit the Conservatives, former Opposition agriculture critic and farmer, Ian Paton, joined him and the two announced they would form a new centre-right party to gain the resources of official party status and give voters an alternative to the Conservatives and the BC NDP.
Today, three more Conservative MLAs—Rosalyn Bird, Teresa Wat and Brennan Day—bolted for the Independent benches, citing untenable ethical issues under Findlay’s leadership. Also today, Findlay fired her party operations manager and key fundraiser after a tape circulated online with him allegedly bragging about a plan to defraud the BC Conservative party.
For her part, Findlay’s initial graciousness at Milobar’s departure soon wore off as other MLAs followed. She has alternately dismissed them as lacking vision or excoriated their motivations as selfish and a betrayal. Some of her supporters have defended their leader’s integrity and derided their former colleagues as “old BC Liberals.” Other Conservative MLAs vow not to quit the Conservative movement or have maintained radio silence.
Either way, Milobar’s departure seems to have opened the floodgates of discontent within caucus ranks. How many legislators will follow, and whether they will join the fledgling new party he and Paton are teeing up, is an open question.
Milobar believes a new centre-right party, led by sitting MLAs, is the most viable path forward.
Listen to the audio highlights reel or watch the full podcast to learn why.
Audio highlights:
Podcast producers: Rob Shaw and Zach Proulx