5 former BC Conservatives forming new yet-to-be-named political party

Five former BC Conservative MLAs have announced they will be forming a new political party. 

These are five of nine who now sit as Independents after leaving the Conservatives due to lack of faith in the party’s new leader, Kerry-Lynne Findaly. 

After resigning from the party, Peter Milobar, who was a rival to Findlay in the leadership race, and Ian Paton announced their intent to start a party. 

Now, Rosalyn Bird, Bruce Banman and A’a:liya Warbus announced in a joint statement that they too will be joining the cause in order to offer an alternative way to vote. 

“We’re building on the momentum Peter and Ian have created over the last week and a half toward giving voters a stable, thoughtful alternative to the NDP,” said Bird in a statement. 

“This party will be focused on the issues the NDP has neglected for far too long: the economy, healthcare, affordability, taxation and land rights.”

Warbus noted that the new party has two years to become “election-ready,” while Banman said he will be bringing his “common-sense” politics to the party. 

Milobar will act as the yet-to-be-named party’s interim leader before the group can hold a leadership vote which is slated for October 5th. 

He says they plan to sit with official third-party status.

The other MLAs to recently depart due to differences with Findlay, Donegal Wilson, Scott McInnis, Teresa Wat and Brennan Day, the MLA for Courtenay-Comox, have not revealed whether they plan to join the new party or to remain as Independents.