Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar said he is leaving the B.C. Conservatives to sit as an Independent.
“I completely respect the vote of the membership, and that Kerry-Lynne Findlay has earned the right as leader to shape the party as she sees fit,” said Milobar in a statement on Friday. “It has, however, become clear to me over the last few months that my values don’t align with this new direction.”
He will join five other MLAs currently sitting as Independents: Elenore Sturko, Jordan Kealy, Dallas Brodie, Tara Armstrong and Hon Chan. All are former B.C. Conservative MLAs who either left the caucus or were removed from it.
Milobar said in an interview there’s no single issue or event that prompted his decision.
“It’s really just a culmination of direction and decisions and messaging…that led me to realize that moving forward, this just was not the space for me to be in, and I felt it was best to move on as a citizen Independent,” he said.
Milobar said he has received some messages of support and understanding from some fellow Independent MLAs, without naming anyone in particular.
He said he has no intention of crossing the floor to the NDP caucus, as former Conservative-turned-Independent MLA Amelia Boultbee did last month.
Milobar said constituents in Kamloops won’t see a big change in how they’ll be represented.
“I’ll still be holding the NDP to account. I’ll still be advocating for the issues that are important to people in Kamloops and British Columbia,” he said.
Milobar ran for the B.C. Conservative party leadership but was eliminated on the first ballot with 10.5 per cent of the vote.
Milobar and Findlay clashed during the campaign, notably when Findlay suggested during a debate that Milobar might have a conflict of interest on issues related to Aboriginal title and property rights because his wife is Indigenous. Milobar called the idea “ridiculous.”
However, he appeared to rally behind Findlay after her leadership victory and maintained his role as finance critic.
Findlay issued a brief statement following Milobar’s announcement.
“I spoke with MLA Peter Milobar this morning when he reached out to share his decision to sit as an Independent. I sincerely thank him for his many years of service to British Columbia and his excellent work as the Conservative Party of BC’s Shadow Minister for Finance.,” said Findlay. “Peter has been a valued member of our team and I wish him nothing but the best in his future advocacy.”
