Despite contentious race Milobar confident in finding path forward with Findlay

Milobar was first off the ballot after only securing just over 10 per cent of the vote.

“We felt good, we thought we had good support across the province,” Milobar told CFJC News. “The membership had their say, I respect that and it’s time to move forward and get behind our new leader.”

Over 26,000 ballots were cast in the election, with the party stating their membership is now the largest in the province.

“I’m very happy that the party came together. I want to congratulate Kerry-Lynne Findlay for a very tough campaign, and we just have to move forward tomorrow,” said Kamloops North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer.

“We have to make sure we don’t leave those people on the sidelines, those one a little bit more towards the centre,” added Fraser-Nicola MLA Tony Luck. “I think with our platforms so far and our polices we’ve been able to do that. And I think that is why we are here tonight.”

Findlay has grand ambitions for the province, campaigning on the planks of repealing the declaration of right of indigenous peoples act (DRIPA), as well as claims of protecting the youth by getting rid of SOGI.

“Lower taxes, safer streets and communities, protecting our children and putting parent and families as a priority. Clear policy commitment, discipline messaging, public safety taken seriously again,” said Findlay.

Findlay will need a current MLA to step down in order for her to contest a by-election and earn a seat in Victoria, but will have some time to get things sorted with the legislature adjourned until the fall.

Of note the BC Conservatives and BC Green Party are now both without their leader holding a seat as Emily Lowan is also waiting for a potential by-election for the Greens.

Milobar confident in finding path forward

No election or leadership race is without its controversy. The 2026 BC Conservative race’s highest form of drama came between Kamloops MLA Peter Milobar and eventual winner Kerry-Lynne Findlay when she questioned Milobar’s indigenous family, calling into question a potential conflict of interest.

A spirited confrontation may be putting it too nicely, as Milobar defended his family during a leadership debate from attacks coming from the now leader of his party.

“We’ve both been around politics for a long time, and leadership races can get heated and certainly I haven’t had any long conversations with Kerry-Lynne at this point but I’m sure we will and we will find a way forward,” Milobar told CFJC News.

The first test of those conversations happened on Sunday, during the party’s first caucus meeting with Findlay at the helm.

“You look at the membership numbers, the fundraising, the energy, the excitement, the polling. So really now the trick is to make sure that everybody does rally and stay together as a party, and move forward so we can defeat the NDP,” added Milobar.

Findlay’s political leanings are potentially furthest right of all five candidates, placing work on the party to ensure they can unite the the right, without leaving the centre behind.

“It’s not whether it’s far right or far left, you have got to make sure it resonates with everybody in this province,” said Kamloops North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer. “And I’m quite sure between the party, caucus and new leader we will be able to do that. We will have effective policy, effective message that will not only resonate with the people of B.C. but everybody who lives here.”

“We’ve all decided that we are going to work very very hard to make sure that his party and this caucus stays united right now,” added Fraser-Nicola MLA Tony Luck. ‘We have to, we have to, we can’t allow David Eby and the NDP to take the province and we can’t let them in for another four years. We have to park egos, whatever we have to do to make sure that this is going to work.”

For Milobar, who joked that he won’t be returning to the Kamloops mayoral office this October, he remains committed to serving Kamloops-Centre.

“I intend to continue on representing the people of Kamloops-Centre, I love my job as an MLA, always have. This was an exciting challenge to try and take on given my experience in politics, it didn’t work out the way we wanted it, but it doesn’t mean I’m done being an MLA by any means,” said Milobar.

Findlay stated she has already had conversations about bringing some of the independents back into the tory fold but would want caucus support before proceeding.

Meanwhile rumblings will certainly begin around a potential centrist party resurgence if the Tories begin to lean further right.

CFJC News did attempt to ask Findlay about her ability to work with Milobar in caucus following her election, but she did not take our question during her limited media scrum.

by Michael Reeve

Despite contentious race Milobar confident in finding path forward with Findlay

Milobar confident in finding path forward

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