Published 9 hours ago • loading... • Updated 6 hours ago
Former Conservatives MLA's Join CentreBC, Milobar Takes over as Leader
Milobar will lead the merged party after six former B.C. Conservative MLAs and one Independent MLA join Centre B.C., amid caucus turmoil.
Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar has assumed leadership of the CentreBC party, succeeding Mike Bernier, who stepped down from the role shortly after taking it on.
Milobar and Bernier announced the merger of Milobar's proposed party with CentreBC during a joint press conference in Vancouver on Friday. The consolidation brings together defectors from the Conservative caucus.
The group includes Independent MLA Elenore Sturko, Ian Paton, and five other former Conservative MLAs, bringing eight sitting MLAs into CentreBC. Paton supports the move despite being absent from the announcement due to vacation.
Mounting speculation suggests Premier David Eby may call a snap election this fall, positioning the MLAs to contest the race under the CentreBC banner. Milobar says the Conservatives are a "clown college."
Since Kerry-Lynne Findlay became leader, the B.C. Conservatives have lost 10 caucus members amid ongoing turmoil, significantly altering the provincial political landscape. CentreBC now becomes the third-largest party in the legislature.