By Michael Reeve

BC CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP

Milobar doesn’t say ‘no’ to potential BC Conservative leadership bid; Stamer shuts it down

Dec 4, 2025 | 4:18 PM

KAMLOOPS — The BC Conservatives are expected to release the information about their leadership contest in the coming days as the party attempts to move on from John Rustad, who resigned as party leader on Thursday (Dec. 4) morning after 48-hour of turmoil inside the Tory caucus.

Peter Milobar is one of the longest tenured members of the opposition caucus, and while the resume includes three different parties from the Liberals to BC United and finally the Tories, that experience may be something of need for his party.

“One step at a time as things unfold,” said Milobar, the Kamloops-Centre MLA. “Leadership races typically take quite a while to unfold — as we’ve seen unfold currently with the federal NDP, so no rush to have to do anything like that.”

Asked directly if he was considering a run, Milobar didn’t say no.

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“I don’t think it would be a shock to anybody that I’m being asked these questions,” Milobar told CFJC News. “But in terms of… I don’t have a leadership team. I haven’t had discussions with my family around this. There are a lot of steps you would have to take. John was our leader up until yesterday when caucus voted to have Trevor Halford become the leader on an interim basis, so those discussions and things like that are best left for another day.”

Across town, Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer was more direct, ruling out a potential run for head job.

“I know there are lots of people out there who would love me to do that,” began Stamer. “I think I’m too outspoken. Honestly, I’m going to tell it the way it is and I also know how important it is to be able to have a strong, united party and a very strong, united caucus. No, I don’t have any leadership aspirations.”

Whoever takes over will be looked at to unite the party, bring donors back into the fold and present a real alternative to the governing NDP in the next election.

“It can be done, and that is what a leadership race hopefully will do — which is bring new ideas and new perspectives to the table and find that personality that can bridge those gaps like we’ve seen happen in the past with a Gordon Campbell, in particular, with the fallout that happened when Gordon Wilson left as leader.”