Another former B.C. Conservative MLA has joined the yet-to-be-named party of defectors, bringing its total to seven seats in the legislature. Boundary-Similkameen representative Donegal Wilson announced her move Monday, two weeks after she left the B.C. Conservatives, saying she could not support the leadership of Kerry-Lynne Findlay. In a statement, Wilson said she did not initially plan to join a new party after quitting the caucus, but made the decision after meeting with the other now-Independent MLAs and seeing “their willingness to have difficult conversations” about its direction. “I am not interested in rebuilding an old, failed party. British Columbia has changed. We are working to understand what worked, be honest about what did not, and build for the British Columbia we want to have in the future,” the statement reads. “The new party has made significant strides in a matter of weeks and I am so thrilled to join this team and help build a credible alternative to the NDP that British Columbians can choose in the next election, whenever that may be.” Ex-Conservatives Peter Milobar (Kamloops Centre) and Ian Paton (Delta South) launched the new party in August, with Milobar serving as interim leader until a caucus vote scheduled for October. Nine MLAs have defected from Findlay’s party over the past month, all pointing to issues with her leadership. Seven have now joined forces, including Richmond-Bridgeport MLA Teresa Wat, Chilliwack-Cultus Lake MLA Áʼa꞉líya Warbus, Prince George-Valemount MLA Rosalyn Bird and Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman. “My responsibility remains first and foremost to the people of Boundary-Similkameen. I am joining this team because I know that we are building a practical, fiscally responsible party that listens, is willing to make difficult decisions and measures success by what it actually delivers for British Columbians,” Wilson said, in the statement. The Conservatives now have 28 seats remaining in the legislature after several MLAs were expelled or defected under Findlay and the previous two leaders, after they came close to forming government in the 2024 election with 44 seats.
