Third-party status incoming: Milobar and Paton welcome three MLAs to new provincial party

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“This will be a party for hard-working British Columbians: one that restores fiscal sanity to this province and positions British Columbia as a national leader in resource development and job creation.” 

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The new provincial party of five aims to bring a “stable, serious alternative” to the governing BC NDP ahead of the next general election. 

Milobar was the first domino to fall on Aug. 14 when he left the Official Opposition in B.C., saying his values don’t align with the direction of the BC Conservatives under new leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay. 

In total, nine BC Conservative MLAs have left caucus within the last three weeks, leaving the Official Opposition with 28 seats in the Legislature. It’s about one-third of the 44 seats the Conservatives won in the 2024 B.C. election.

The party of five independent MLA’s say they will hold an internal leadership vote before the Legislature returns on Oct. 5. Milobar will serve in the role on an interim basis. 

With five MLA’s, the new party would sit with official third-party status. The BC Greens under leader Emily Lowan, who doesn’t have a seat in the Legislature, has two MLA’s.