MLAs Todd Stone (l) and Peter Milobar campaign in the 2020 election (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Provincial Politics

MLAs Stone, Milobar intend to run for re-election, switch ridings

Apr 6, 2023 | 12:19 PM

KAMLOOPS — The B.C. Liberals say Kamloops MLAs Peter Milobar and Todd Stone will both run for re-election the next time the writ is dropped — but will switch ridings.

In a news release, the party comments on riding boundary changes proposed this week by the B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission. The changes would add six new ridings to B.C., and would significantly alter the two Kamloops-area ridings. Kamloops-South Thompson would be renamed ‘Kamloops Centre’ and would encompass most of the city’s urban area, while Kamloops-North Thompson would include a portion of east Kamloops and extend east along the South Thompson River.

“There was no arm wrestling required,” joked Stone. “We have a terrific relationship and partnership here, Pete and I do. So, we just sat down and looked at the maps and had a brief conversation about it. As I’ve said recently these two new ridings in Kamloops are really almost 50-50 combinations of what is currently in Kamloops North Thompson and Kamloops South Thompson.”

The party says it will advocate to change the name of Kamloops-North Thompson to ‘Kamloops Thompson Valleys,’ better reflecting the riding’s geography.

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“I definitely have some background and relevant knowledge about the transportation challenges that exist on the highway 5 corridor. We will certainly bring that to bear to make sure we get back on track with making those safety improvements that are needed for the travelling public,” said Stone.

In the release, the party also says Milobar will run for re-election in Kamloops Centre and Stone in Kamloops-North Thompson.

“We have been privileged to represent the people of Kamloops and the surrounding area to date,” say Milobar and Stone. “While we regret that we won’t be directly representing all neighbourhoods and communities that we were originally elected to due to these boundary changes, as good MLA partners and friends, we will continue to advocate for the services, investments, and priorities that our constituents in our communities need and deserve.”

“We’ll both Todd (Stone) and I have known bossily from the last election that we fully indented on running again,” said Milobar. “What was unknown was the outcome of the electoral boundary commission. We are very happy to see they listened to the North Thompson Valley and keep Barriere and Clearwater and the Simpc connected into Kamloops. And then we had some decisions to make once we saw what the final realignment was with the ridings as well. And that is what has brought us to our decision today, it wasn’t an easy one for either of us but we are exciting to continue on the work for the people of Kamloops and the Thompson Valleys.”

The next provincial election is scheduled for October 2024.

Stone was first elected in Kamloops-South Thompson in 2013. Milobar was first elected in Kamloops-North Thompson in 2017.