Peter Milobar (Image Credit: BC Legislature)
2024 WRAP

Kamloops MLA Milobar looks back on year of change in B.C. politics

Dec 31, 2024 | 7:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Election years always bring with them a sense of change in provincial politics. However, British Columbia put that into overdrive in 2024, highlighted by the rise of the Conservatives and fall of the long-standing right-of-centre party, the BC Liberals and then BC United. Caught in the middle of the collapse were both Kamloops-area MLAs, who went different directions in the wake of the BC United fall.

When the calendar flipped to 2024, Peter Milobar was sitting as front bench member of the BC United Party, gearing up for the fall election. As we look to 2025, the Kamloops Centre MLA will be back in Victoria but with different stripes.

“I don’t think anyone was really expecting anything other than a coming together. Most thought it was going to happen after the election,” Milobar told CFJC News. “Obviously, the chaos that ensued in the end of August there, beginning of September put a whole new wrinkle on things. But ultimately, I think everyone was kind of of that view that we needed to try to do what we can to get the NDP out of government. (We) fell a little short.”

The newly-formed Conservative Party has unsurprisingly faced growing pains, including infighting from the so-called ‘Cancel Caucus,’ yet the veteran MLA in the young caucus has seen steady growth.

“Really, (we must) start to focus and direct those attacks more so on the NDP. Ultimately, a big tent party doesn’t mean it’s sunshine and roses all the time. The NDP have their struggles and trials and tribulations between the environmental side, the unions and social activism as well. It’s all part of a new party that is growing and finding it’s way,” said Milobar.

As the Tories look to focus on the governing NDP, several big ticket items will be atop their agenda, including the Kamloops cancer centre.

“The concerns were brought forward to us by the oncologists, by the medical professionals that deal with cancer care in Kamloops and the surrounding areas to begin with. Their concerns, and they are very valid, is it will be a facility that does not attract the research it should, does not attract the staffing it should within the BC Cancer agency campus of care,” noted Milobar.

The top issue of election 2024 was public safety and the ever-growing illicit drug crisis in B.C. Post vote, those challenges — especially around decriminalization — are expected to be hotly debated in the legislature.

“It’s time for [the NDP government] to be forthright and up front with people and say, ‘Look. We tried it, it failed, we are heading down that same path that Oregon did before us. We know where this ends, so let’s just cut it off now and get back down to trying to actually get proper treatment and recovery spaces for people — not just involuntary, but also voluntary.”

The B.C. Legislature is expected to begin sitting in February.