Conservative defectors join CentreBC, with Peter Milobar named leader

For weeks, B.C.'s political right has been splintering, but on Friday, there was a merger.

B.C. Conservative defector Peter Milobar was named the new leader of CentreBC on Friday, with fellow members of his unnamed splinter group joining the party as well.

Former leader Mike Bernier introduced Milobar at a news conference in downtown Vancouver, just two months after being named party head.

Milobar quit the Conservative caucus in mid-August, citing differences with embattled leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay, and an exodus of MLAs followed suit over the summer.

Three others were kicked out this week, including former leaders John Rustad and Trevor Halford.

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

With a possible snap election on the horizon, Milobar suggested the Conservatives intend to purge anyone “considered not extreme-right enough,” either by “not signing nomination papers or by moving forward and kicking them out of the caucus.”

CentreBC held no seats in the B.C. legislature before Friday’s announcement, but now has eight sitting MLAs. Previously, Milobar and fellow Conservative defector Ian Paton had announced they would start a new right-of-centre party.

Among CentreBC’s new members is Elenore Sturko, another former Conservative who was expelled by Rustad last year. Milobar said more MLAs could join soon, and that the door is open to anyone unhappy with their party’s current leadership.

With many former B.C. Conservatives in the fold, Milobar was asked how CentreBC will differentiate itself from Findlay’s party.

“Besides all the drama? Being professional, being competent, being serious, and focused on what matters to British Columbia,” he said, adding CentreBC won’t “lean heavily into the culture wars.”

CentreBC is now the third-largest party in the legislature, while nine MLAs remain Independent.

CentreBC candidate Lakhwinder Jhaj is running against Findlay in the Sept. 26 byelection in Abbotsford-Mission, where the Conservative leader is hoping to earn her own seat.

Should B.C. Premier David Eby call an early election, Milobar said the party intends to run candidates in all 93 ridings.

With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Andrew Weichel