Kamloops MLA Milobar resigns from BC Conservative caucus

“What matters most to me hasn’t changed – serving the people of Kamloops Centre well. I’ll have more to say about the road ahead in the days to come.”

The move comes nearly three months after Kerry-Lynne Findlay was elected leader of the BC Conservatives, following the resignation of John Rustad in late 2025. Milobar ran for leadership as well, being the first of five candidates eliminated after securing just over 10 per cent of his party members’ support during the May 30 vote.

The opposition between Findlay and Milobar was evident during the BC Conservatives’ leadership contest. During a televised debate, Findlay claimed Milobar had a conflict of interest regarding Aboriginal title and property rights in B.C. Milobar, whose wife is Indigenous, defended his family.

One month after the leadership contest, Milobar retained his position as finance critic for the BC Conservatives as Findlay filled several roles on her leadership team with loyalists. The Kamloops MLA downplayed the public contention and spoke about a willingness to continue in his role.

After serving as the mayor of Kamloops for nearly nine years, Milobar was elected to the legislature in 2017 as a member of the former BC Liberal Party. He won re-election in the Kamloops-North Thompson riding in 2020.

The BC Liberals rebranded as the BC United Party in 2023, under new leader Kevin Falcon. United suspended its political campaign nearly two months ahead of the 2024 provincial election, with Falcon endorsing the BC Conservatives.

Shortly after, Milobar crossed the floor to join the BC Conservatives and was elected as MLA of Kamloops Centre.

Milobar’s departure comes one month after former Conservative MLA Amelia Boultbee joined the governing BC NDP caucus.

While Boultbee was elected as Penticton-Summerland MLA under the BC Conservative banner in 2024, she resigned a year later and sat as an independent after fellow MLA Elenore Sturko was removed from the Conservative caucus by former leader John Rustard.

Boultbee said Findlay was more consumed with “divisive Donald Trump-style populism” than issues that matter for residents in B.C.

Currently, Findlay doesn’t have a seat in the B.C. legislature. Milobar’s resignation leaves the Conservatives with 37 MLA’s, behind the governing NDP with 48.

by Aaron Schulze

Kamloops MLA Milobar resigns from BC Conservative caucus

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