- Peter Milobar left the B.C. Conservative caucus 10 days ago, citing a lack of 'ideological alignment' with leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay.
- Ian Paton announced his departure from the caucus on Monday, joining Milobar outside the legislature.
- Paton and Milobar announced plans to form a new political party with Milobar as interim leader, aiming to register with Elections BC before the fall session.
- Ian Paton expressed concerns about the direction of Kerry-Lynne Findlay's leadership, stating that he felt a level of mistrust towards him because he is a former B.C. Liberal.
- Findlay has been facing divisions in the party, which includes former B.C. Liberal MLAs, and has pushed the party right focusing on 'faith, freedom and family'.
- Paton claimed that since Findlay took over leadership, she has ejected competent people from key caucus leadership roles and 'purged' staff.
Two former B.C. Conservative MLAs, Ian Paton and Peter Milobar, are forming a new political party amid dissatisfaction with the party's current leadership under Kerry-Lynne Findlay. Paton announced his departure from the Conservative caucus, stating, "I can no longer sit back, watching my opportunity... slip by."123678910
Paton, who has represented Delta South since 2017, joined Milobar, the MLA for Kamloops Centre, in this new venture. Milobar had left the caucus earlier, citing a lack of “ideological alignment” with Findlay's leadership, which he described as pushing the party to the right.
The duo plans to register their new party with Elections BC before the fall legislative session, aiming to attract voters who feel politically homeless. “We need those people to come back,” Paton said, referencing the centrist voters who previously supported the party.45
Paton expressed concerns about the changes within the Conservative caucus since Findlay's election, noting a “purging of a lot of staff members” and a shift in the party's direction. He claimed that constituents in Delta South have voiced their dissatisfaction, with “eight or nine out of 10” expressing concerns about the party's current trajectory.
Milobar acknowledged the potential for further defections from the Conservatives, stating, “I’m hearing and listening from caucus members, and some may still come.” The formation of this new party could reshape the political landscape in British Columbia as it seeks to provide an alternative to the governing New Democrats and the current Conservative leadership.
“Paton, who served as agriculture critic, said Findlay offered him a political adviser role to resign his seat, but no financial offer was made. Milobar noted real fears of vote splitting, aiming to attract centrist voters who feel 'politically homeless' under the current leadership.”
The Globe and Mail
