(L-R) Ward Stamer, Brennan Day, Gavin Dew, Peter Milobar, Kiel Giddens, Scott McInnis (Image Credit: Global)

By Michael Reeve

BC Conservative Leadership Race

MLA Stamer joins four others in officially endorsing Kamloops’ Milobar for Conservative leader

Feb 25, 2026 | 4:32 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar now has the support of more than 15 per cent of the current Conservative caucus, as five MLAs, including Ward Stamer of Kamloops-North Thompson, officially endorsed his leadership bid Wednesday (Feb 25) morning.

“Peter is a solid guy and he has the leadership skills. He has the ability to get people together and work together,” said Stamer. “That is really what we need in this province right now is someone who has the experience and the fiscal responsibility… to be able to turn this province around.”

Stamer was joined by MLAs Scott McInnis, Gavin Dew, Kiel Giddens and Brennan Day, a group that Stamer called a ‘pretty good cross-section’ of the caucus room.

“Politics is a compromise. You never always get your way. You may not get everything you put on the table, but at the end of the day you hope you are moving forward in a good way and that is exactly what Peter understands,” Stamer told CFJC News.

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Saving people time at ICBC

9h ago

Question of the Week

Has the violence in Mexico changed your opinion about travelling there for a vacation?

Feb 23, 2026

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: February 23, 2026

Feb 23, 2026

Caucus members with Milobar on Wednesday stated there is even more support for the Kamloops MLA in the legislature with more endorsements expected in the days ahead. 

“There are more than these MLAs. It’s very heartening to me to know that is happening within caucus,” Milobar told reporters on Wednesday out front of the BC legislature.

Those endorsing Milobar spoke to his experience, his work on the finance file as opposition critic, having a greater understanding of the issues affecting rural B.C. and the fact he can immediately impact the legislature.

“We don’t have time to wait. If there is anything we have seen from the reaction to the budget is that British Columbia can not afford anymore time of David Eby,” said Kelowna Mission MLA Dew. “We need to be ready now to hold the government to account. Peter Milobar as our leader is ready to hold the government to account.”

The leadership race wraps up on May 30 at the Conservative convention where the new leader will be elected through a ranked ballot.

“Peter should be their first choice, because that is what I’m doing. But if he’s your second choice, that’s good, too, because through the whole process, I think the party with unite around that person who is best to lead us into the next election and that is Peter Milobar,” added Stamer.