Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar quits B.C. Conservative caucus
Published 4:43 pm Friday, August 14, 2026
Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar announced on social media on Friday that he is leaving the B.C. Conservative caucus, saying he no longer shares the party’s values under new Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay.
“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,” he wrote. “It has, however, become clear to me over the last few months that my values don’t align with this new direction.”
Findlay released a statement saying she had spoken with Milobar earlier in the day about his decision. Milobar was the party’s finance critic, a high-profile position.
“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,” Findlay said. “Peter has been a valued member of our team and I wish him nothing but the best in his future advocacy.”
Milobar told Black Press Media it wasn’t any single thing that caused him to make this call, but the “overall way things are being structured” in the Conservative caucus.
When asked what impact Findlay’s leadership style had on this decision, Milobar said he’d let his decision and statement speak for themselves.
“Well, I mean, I’m sitting as an Independent today,” he said.
Milobar ran against Findlay for the Conservative nomination, but received the fewest votes in a five-way race.
He clashed with Findlay in a debate when Findlay questioned whether his wife’s work for the Kamloops Indian Band (Milobar’s wife is Indigenous) is a conflict of interest on land rights.
Milobar’s decision means there will now be six Independents in the legislature, all former members of the B.C. Conservatives. A seventh Conservative defector, Penticton Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee, has joined the NDP.
This brings the Conservative Caucus total to 37 MLAs, down from the 44 elected less than two years ago. The NDP now has 48 MLAs and the Green Party has two.
Milobar says he is still unsure about the next steps, like whether he will try to join or form a party of his own. A logical caucus-mate would be former Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko, who now sits as an Independent.
It only takes two MLAs to form a caucus, which comes with extra funding and more time in Question Period. Milobar says he has not spoken to Sturko about this yet, but he is still friendly with her, and they occasionally exchange text messages.
One thing he ruled out is joining the NDP.
“In all honesty, there is no chance,” he said. “We are so divergent in our worldviews.”