Kamloops MLA Milobar takes over as leader of CentreBC

Rustad, former interim leader Trevor Halford and Claire Rattée were the latest to be removed from caucus Friday, making it 12 the losses for the official Opposition since Kerry Lynne-Findlay took over as leader.

Brennan Day and Scott McInnis also left the Conservative caucus in recent weeks, but at the moment their political future isn’t known.

“Let’s face it, it’s a you-know-what show going on with the B.C. Conservatives right now,” Milobar added Friday. “Their leader seems to be expelling members left, right and centre.”

Milobar said CentreBC plans to run candidates in all 93 ridings.

“It doesn’t matter about the name at the top of the ticket,” Milobar said.

“We’ve been working together and talking together for the past several weeks around doing this exact thing. We thought we’d be doing it on the steps of Legislature on October 5, but unfortunately the Premier has decided he needs to call an unnecessary election…less than two years into his mandate.”

Premier David Eby says he hasn’t made any decision on an election date but said this week that he told Elections BC and his caucus to be “election ready” amid disruptions posed by the U.S. trade war.

“We are going to be hyper-focused on the economy, on delivering affordability for British Columbians,” Milobar added. “We are going to be hyper-focused on healthcare and bringing innovation and creative solutions into that sector so people can actually have a healthcare system they can rely on.”

“We’re going to be hyper-focused around crime and safety in our streets to make sure people actually feel safe again.”

CentreBC was formed in March 2025 by former MLA Karin Kirkpatrick, who stepped down as leader in June. Bernier took over as leader in July and he was at the helm for about three months.

“What Mike and myself have been doing quite literally over the last few weeks [is] trying to build a coalition of two parties to come together as one, trying to take dramatic aggressive steps to get ready for a general election that’s unnecessary in its timing,” Milobar said.

by Victor Kaisar

Kamloops MLA Milobar takes over as leader of CentreBC

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