Paton joins Milobar as independent MLA with plans to form a new party

And now he has company, with Delta South MLA Ian Paton leaving the Tory team. The two are now set to caucus together in the early stage formation of a new political party.

“We want to be clear that our intention is to form a new party in the BC Legislature to give a home to those who feel politically homeless in this province and to stop the NDP from further destruction of British Columbia,” added Paton.

Paton, like Milobar, was first elected under the BC Liberal banner, before representing BC United and then the Conservatives.

“I personally felt a little bit uncomfortable with the new leadership sitting there almost as if there were eyes on me,” said Paton. “Way back in the Christy Clark days, I was BC Liberal and then I was BC United, but my family going back to my parents and grandparents are conservative minded common sense people.”

The move to caucus and party together, bring with it perks to help garner support from what peter called the politically homeless.

“The MLAs are incredibly important in any new party endeavor, because you do get those resources, you get extra research resources, you get communication staff that will actually help you get that out to the broader public in a sustained way,” Milobar told CFJC News. “Working with mainstream media and other media sources. So it’s critically important and that is the key to any party being successful.”

Milobar and Paton are not approaching Conservative caucus members directly about joining their team, recognizing it’s a difficult personal decision for each individual.

“In the meantime we will be organizing we will be getting final paperwork approved by Elections BC, with the target of making sure when the legislature sits on October 5, we are recognized as an official party in the legislature,” added Milobar.

by Michael Reeve

Paton joins Milobar as independent MLA with plans to form a new party

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