Delta South MLA leaves BC Conservatives to launch new party with Milobar

Delta South MLA Ian Paton has announced his departure from the BC Conservatives.

He will be launching a new party with his former colleague, Peter Milobar, who left caucus earlier this month.

In the meantime, both will sit as Independents.

"In 2024 I joined the BC Conservatives with the belief that it would become a broad coalition for British Columbians who wanted responsible, common-sense government," Paton wrote in a statement. "What united us was a broad belief in responsible government, private enterprise, fiscal discipline and building a strong economy. It has become clear to me that the new direction of the Conservative Party of BC under the leadership of Kerry-Lynne Findlay is no longer aligned with my beliefs."

He made it clear that "[his] first responsibility as an MLA is to the people of Delta South."

"I was elected to represent Delta South in Victoria," Paton declared. "I was not elected to simply represent a political party in Delta South."

Paton officially revealed his move during a press conference outside the Legislature on Monday. He and Milobar explained that while their new centrist party does not yet have a name, they're working to have official status by the time MLAs reconvene for the fall session.

Milobar noted that if they're able to convince one more MLA to join their team, they would overtake the BC Greens as the third party.

In a statement posted to X, BC Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay said she was "disappointed" by Paton's decision, but thanked him for his service.

"The Conservative Party of BC remains firm and steadfast in our mission to defeat the NDP and restore prosperity, opportunity and accountability to British Columbia," she added. "There is important work ahead, and we will remain focused on delivering the change British Columbians deserve."

More to come...