Peter Milobar quits BC Conservative caucus — will sit as independent

MLA Peter Milobar has announced his departure from the BC Conservative caucus.

He will sit as an independent MLA.

"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," Milobar 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. With that in mind, effective immediately, I will be sitting as an Independent member of the B.C. Legislature."

He noted that, "what matters most to me hasn’t changed – serving the people of Kamloops Centre well."

"I spoke to MLA Peter Milobar this morning when he reached out to share his decision to sit as an Independent," Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay wrote in a statement. "I sincerely thank him for his many years of service to British Columbia and his excellent work as the Conservative Party of BC’s Shadow Minister for Finance. Peter has been a valued member of our team and I wish him nothing but the best in his future advocacy."

When asked by Sitka Media whether he would invite Milobar to join the BC NDP, Premier David Eby said it was unlikely, but that "anything is possible."

"Mr. Milobar ran for govt with a leader that was a climate change denier and thought Bonnie Henry should be tried for war crimes," he noted. "I don't believe that our perspectives align."

Milobar also ran in the 2026 BC Conservative leadership race, finishing in fifth place. 

During a leadership debate, now-Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay suggested Milobar was in a conflict of interest when dealing with First Nation issues because his wife is Indigenous. Findlay refused to retract her attacks, which we widely criticized at the time.

Milobar responds to Findlay’s claim he has ‘conflict of interest’ on DRIPA, land rights because family is Indigenous

Milobar described the situation as “ridiculous” and said British Columbians “don’t want this garbage.”

Sitka MediaSitka Media

Milobar was first elected in 2017 as a BC Liberal, and was re-elected in 2020. Later, Milobar would join the BC Conservatives after the rebranded BC Liberals/BC United suspended its campaign ahead of the 2024 election. Following the 2024 election, Milobar was named Finance Critic by then-Leader John Rustad.

Prior to entering provincial politics, Milobar served three terms as Mayor or Kamloops.