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.” 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. When votes were tallied, Milobar finished last in the Conservative leadership race and was eliminated after the first ballot. With files from The Canadian Press
