Kamloops MLAs pleased to retain critic roles in new B.C. Conservative shadow cabinet

“Very happy to continue on in my role as finance critic,” Milobar told CFJC Today. “It’s certainly one that I’ve taken very seriously over the years that I’ve been doing it, and I want to be able to continue to be able to hold the government to account for their horrific fiscal track record.”

In a statement, Findlay said members of her shadow cabinet “are incredibly knowledgeable about their portfolios,” as she referenced among other things “the steady hand of Peter Milobar on Finance.”

“The B.C. Conservative team is more united than ever, and I am proud to have the support of the other leadership contestants including Peter Milobar,” Findlay said. “Together, we will stand up for British Columbians against the dishonesty and incompetence of the NDP, and prepare to form government after the next election.”

The B.C. Conservative leadership campaign was messy at times, especially when Findlay went after Milobar’s family’s Indigenous heritage over what she called a potential conflict of interest. It’s water under the bridge as far as Milobar is concerned.

“This is a process that unfolds after every leadership race and certainly you know, everybody was waiting to see what was going to happen with critic roles – no different than the government when they make cabinet shuffles, Milobar added.

“It’s all part of the process and I’m happy to continue on as finance critic.”

Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer, who supported Milobar’s bid for leadership, stays on as forests critic, a role he’s also happy to continue in.

“It’s good news,” the first-term MLA said. “I’ve worked really hard on this portfolio in the last year and half and I’m certainly glad that the leader has continued to have faith in me in the critic portfolio for forestry.”

Elsewhere, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson will carry on as assistant deputy speaker, but he adds deputy B.C Conservative House Leader to his list of duties. Fraser-Nicola MLA Tony Luck remains on as Municipal Affairs Critic while Salmon Arm-Shuswap MLA David Williams is still critic for BC Hydro and Electrical Energy Development.

Williams, who supported Findlay’s bid for leadership, will also serve as the party’s Okanagan and Interior lieutenant.

“Our leadership team will prioritize effectiveness and inclusivity, focusing on key issues such as affordability, land matters, housing, infrastructure, and the economy, ensuring the Okanagan and interior regions’ voices are heard,” Williams said in a statement on social media.

MLAs are currently on summer break, and they’re due back in Victoria on Oct. 5 when the fall session gets underway. B.C. Conservative MLAs are currently in Penticton for a two day caucus meeting, their first with Findlay at the helm.

“We’ve got a bunch of work and we’re looking at what’s coming up in the legislature this fall,” Stamer said. “We’re looking at constituency development, we’re looking at dusting off the policies as well to make sure we’re in line with not just B.C. values but our values as well.”

“We don’t talk about the inner workings of caucus meetings but its opportunity for all of us to get together after a long leadership race and really start to gel as a team again moving forward,” added Milobar.

“It allows us to set that direction that we want to continue on into the summer and obviously into the fall session.”

Findlay doesn’t currently hold a seat in the legislature, so Chilliwack North MLA Heather Maahs takes over from Trevor Halford as interim leader of the Official Opposition. Halford had been in that role since John Rustad’s resignation in December last year.

Halford, a former BC Liberal/BC United MLA, is critic for transit and ICBC, but he was left out of Findlay’s leadership team.

“Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s choice of Heather Maahs as Opposition Leader shows that she’s doubling down on her divisive and extreme approach,” Gary Begg, the B.C. NDP Caucus Chair, said in a statement.

“She’s continuing to purge anyone she considers Liberal while promoting pro-Trump MLAs who think British Columbians should roll over and comply with Donald Trump’s demands. British Columbians don’t want this divisive, U.S.-style politics in our province.”

by Victor Kaisar

Kamloops MLAs pleased to retain critic roles in new B.C. Conservative shadow cabinet

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