Peter Milobar leaves B.C. Conservative caucus, cites differences with Findlay over ‘direction’

It was a dramatic day for B.C.'s two largest provincial political parties, with a cabinet shuffle and a prominent departure.

Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar announced Friday that he has left the B.C. Conservative caucus and will sit as an Independent.

Milobar, who ran for the party’s leadership and lost to Kerry-Lynne Findlay earlier this year, cited differences with Findlay as the basis for his departure.

“I completely respect the vote of the membership, and that Kerry-Lynne Findlay has earned the right as leader to shape the party as she sees fit,” he said in a statement.

“It has, however, become clear to me over the last few months that my values don’t align with this new direction.”

Milobar had been serving as finance critic in Findlay’s shadow cabinet.

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

In a brief statement, Findlay said she had spoken to Milobar Friday morning.

“I sincerely thank him for his many years of service to British Columbia and his excellent work as the Conservative Party of B.C.’s shadow minister for finance,” the statement reads.

“Peter has been a valued member of our team and I wish him nothing but the best in his future advocacy.”

A former mayor of Kamloops, Milobar has represented the city in Victoria since 2017, first as a member of the B.C. Liberals, then under the ill-fated B.C. United banner, and ultimately for the Conservatives after B.C. United ended its election campaign in August 2024.

In the leadership race, Milobar was seen as representing the party’s more moderate wing, and had the backing of several fellow former B.C. United MLAs.

His campaign ran into some trouble in April, when Elections B.C. announced it was fining B.C. United $4,500 for “transmitting a false statement to affect election results.”

Milobar’s leadership campaign manager Mark Werner was in the same role for B.C. United at the time of the violation.

Werner stepped down from Milobar’s campaign after the Elections B.C. announcement. Both he and Milobar have denied any involvement in the campaign rule breaches.

• Read more: Conservative leadership hopeful Milobar changes campaign manager after investigation

When votes were tallied, Milobar finished last in the Conservative leadership race and was eliminated after the first ballot.

Since emerging from the leadership contest victorious, Findlay has embarked on major staffing changes, something that’s not uncommon for new leaders of political parties.

Last month, former executive director Angelo Isidorou, who oversaw the party’s rise from obscurity to the brink of power in the 2024 provincial election, announced his departure from the party.

He said in a statement that he was leaving on “amicable and mutual terms,” and Findlay thanked him for providing “continuity” during the transition after her election as leader.

Dion Weisner, who was hired as director of research for the Conservative caucus in January 2025, was also let go in July. He told The Canadian Press at the time that there had been a 50 per cent turnover in caucus staff since Findlay took charge.

• Read more: Angelo Isidorou is out as executive director of B.C. Conservatives as shakeup continues

Milobar is the first MLA to leave the B.C. Conservatives since Findlay became leader, but six MLAs anonymously expressed concern about the direction of the party to CTV News after Isidorou’s departure.

Stewart Prest, a political scientist at the University of British Columbia, said he “would not be surprised” to see other B.C. Conservative MLAs follow Milobar’s lead.

“His move is symbolically important,” argued Prest, in an interview with CTV News.

“He was in that leadership race for a reason. He is seen as a leader among more moderate conservatives in the province.”

Longtime Delta MLA Ian Paton stepped down from his role as the party’s Lower Mainland lieutenant in July, but said that decision had “nothing to do with any disagreement or dissatisfaction with the Conservative Party of British Columbia or its leadership.”

Departures from the Conservative caucus became fairly common under former leader John Rustad, with several members either leaving or being expelled from the party’s fold in 2025.

With Milobar now an Independent, the B.C. legislature currently has 48 NDP members, 37 Conservatives, two Greens and six Independents.

With files from The Canadian Press and CTV News Vancouver’s Rob Buffam