Topic

B.C. Conservative Party leadership and caucus divisions

active politics · 64 articles indexed · last activity 6 hr ago

Coverage of leadership developments, internal divisions, and departures within the B.C. Conservative Party, including members leaving to sit as independents or form alternative parties.

Coverage Timeline

  1. Sep 23 B.C. tourism to benefit as YVR-China flights set to surge 40% ↗ ↳ In this roundup: Lorne Doerkson, interim leader of the B.C. Conservatives representing Cariboo-Chilcotin, pledges to become more than interim premier if his party wins the October 24 election, despite party constitution rules prohibiting interim leaders from seeking permanent leadership. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
  2. Sep 22 Kamloops Centre MLA Milobar rejoins BC Conservatives ↗ CFJC Today details
  3. B.C. Conservatives regroup under interim leader Doerkson amid election speculation ↗ ↳ In this roundup: The British Columbia Conservative Party appointed Lorne Doerkson as interim leader following Kerry-Lynne Findlay's resignation, and has restored five expelled or resigned MLAs to caucus ahead of a potential snap election. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
  4. Sep 21 RAW INTERVIEW: New interim leader of the BC Conservatives Lorne Doerkson ↗ CFJC Today details
  5. Sep 18 CentreBC gains 8 MLAs as Findlay boots 3, including Rustad, from Conservative caucus ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
  6. Kamloops MLA Milobar takes over as leader of CentreBC ↗ CFJC Today details
  7. 5 things you need to know this morning: Sept. 18, 2026 ↗ ↳ In this roundup: CTV News reports that Pierre Poilievre, leader of the opposition, took effort to avoid cameras and media questions as the Conservative caucus retreat concluded on Thursday in British Columbia. KamloopsBCNow roundup details
  8. Sep 16 Prawn fisher fined $5K for dropping traps near West Vancouver glass sponge reefs ↗ ↳ In this roundup: A new unnamed party led by Kamloops-Centre MLA Peter Milobar has attracted seven BC Conservative MLAs who have left the party since Kerry-Lynne Findlay was chosen as leader. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
  9. BC Parks tightens day-use pass system after reports of reselling, bot activity ↗ ↳ In this roundup: Kamloops-Centre MLA Peter Milobar is leading a new, as-yet-unnamed party that has attracted seven Conservative MLAs who departed the BC Conservative caucus following Kerry-Lynne Findlay's election as leader. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
  10. Secrecy and accountability 'can coexist': groups push for Tumbler Ridge gun details ↗ ↳ In this roundup: Seven BC Conservative MLAs, including Kamloops-Centre MLA Peter Milobar, have formed an unnamed new party that plans to sit as a caucus when the legislature resumes. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
  11. Sep 15 Campbell River, B.C., area will be first to test new proposed forest management model ↗ ↳ In this roundup: Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar is leading a new unnamed party attracting seven Conservative defectors who plan to sit as a caucus when the BC Legislature resumes. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
  12. Sep 5 Revelstoke teen was last seen Sept. 5, 1998 ↗ ↳ In this roundup: Kamloops-Centre MLA Peter Milobar's unnamed political party grew to five members after three more former B.C. Conservatives—Rosalyn Bird, Bruce Banman, and Áʼa꞉líya Warbus—joined him and Ian Paton, with Milobar serving as interim leader. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
  13. Athletics Canada says missing mountaineer was climbing near Switzerland-Italy border ↗ ↳ In this roundup: Kamloops-Centre MLA Peter Milobar's unnamed political party has grown to five members after recruiting three former B.C. Conservative MLAs; Milobar will serve as interim leader until a permanent leader is elected before the legislature returns on Oct. 5. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
  14. Woman injured after bear attack in park outside Whistler: B.C. conservation officers ↗ ↳ In this roundup: Kamloops-Centre MLA Peter Milobar's unnamed political party has grown to five members after three former B.C. Conservatives joined, with Milobar serving as interim leader until an October 5 leadership vote. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
  15. 'Old-school' Nanaimo DJ gears up for national championships ↗ ↳ In this roundup: Kamloops-Centre MLA Peter Milobar's unnamed centrist political party has grown to five members after three former B.C. Conservative MLAs joined him and Delta South MLA Ian Paton, with plans to sit as official third-party status when the legislature reconvenes on Oct. 5. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
  16. Missing hiker found alive in Squamish ↗ ↳ In this roundup: Kamloops-Centre MLA Peter Milobar's unnamed centrist political party has grown to five members after three additional former B.C. Conservative MLAs joined the party, which will hold official third-party status when the legislature reconvenes in October. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
  17. Sep 4 ‘When you have polarization, compromise goes out the window’; Milobar takes aim at third-party status ↗ CFJC Today details
  18. Rob Shaw: Kahlon promises ‘reset’ on B.C. overdose prevention sites ↗ ↳ In this roundup: Kamloops-Centre MLA Peter Milobar's unnamed centrist political party has grown to five members after three additional former B.C. Conservative MLAs joined, positioning the party for official third-party status when the legislature reconvenes in October. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
  19. Man arrested for arson over suspicious fires along B.C. highway ↗ ↳ In this roundup: Peter Milobar's unnamed centrist party announced its addition of three former B.C. Conservative MLAs (Rosalyn Bird, Bruce Banman, and Áʼa꞉líya Warbus), bringing the party to five seats total and eligible for official third-party status. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
  20. 5 former Conservative MLAs have formed a new BC political party ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
  21. Third-party status incoming: Milobar and Paton welcome three MLAs to new provincial party ↗ CFJC Today details
  22. No time to waste for Milobar as ex-B. C. Conservatives join new party of five MLAs | iNFOnews.ca ↗ InfoNews Kamloops details
  23. Five former B.C. Conservative MLAs unite under still-unnamed political party ↗ ↳ In this roundup: Kamloops-Centre MLA Peter Milobar's unnamed centrist political party added three former B.C. Conservative MLAs, bringing its total to five members as nine Conservative MLAs have left the caucus in three weeks. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
  24. Aug 31 Áʼa꞉líya Warbus becomes 7th MLA to leave BC Conservatives in August missing KamloopsBCNow details
  25. Voting to begin in federal byelections in Toronto, Vancouver and Chicoutimi ridings ↗ ↳ In this roundup: CentreBC announces Lakhwinder Jhaj as its candidate in the Sept. 26 Abbotsford-Mission byelection, joining Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay and former NDP agriculture minister Pam Alexis. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
  26. ROTHENBURGER – The man who wanted to be leader of the province ↗ Armchair Mayor details
  27. Aug 28 LETTER – Will Milobar set his sights on stepping up to the federal level? ↗ Armchair Mayor details
  28. Aug 26 EDITORIAL – Milobar could be the undoing of the BC Conservatives ↗ Armchair Mayor details
  29. Aug 24 Paton joins Milobar as independent MLA with plans to form a new party ↗ CFJC Today details
  30. Ian Paton leaves BC Conservatives, plans to form new party with Peter Milobar ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
  31. Two former B.C. Conservatives plan to form new party, steer clear of CentreBC ↗ CFJC Today details
  32. Ian Paton leaves B.C. Conservative caucus, says he plans to form a new political party with Peter Milobar ↗ CBC News British Columbia details
  33. Aug 19 Peter Milobar says split with BC Conservatives came after months of growing disconnect ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
  34. Aug 14 ‘Not the first British Columbian that has had these feelings’; Milobar leaves Tory Caucus ↗ CFJC Today details
  35. RAW INTERVIEW: Peter Milobar speaks after leaving the BC Conservative Caucus ↗ CFJC Today details
  36. EDITORIAL – Is it really a surprise that Milobar has quit the Conservatives? ↗ Armchair Mayor details
  37. Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar quits BC Conservatives to sit as independent ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
  38. Kamloops MLA Peter Milobar leaves BC Conservative Party | iNFOnews.ca ↗ InfoNews Kamloops details
  39. UPDATE: Milobar speaks to Radio NL on decision to leave BC Conservatives to sit as independent ↗ Radio NL details
  40. Peter Milobar cites gap in 'ideological alignment' as he quits B.C. Conservatives | iNFOnews.ca ↗ InfoNews Kamloops details
  41. Peter Milobar cites gap in 'ideological alignment' as he quits B.C. Conservatives | iNFOnews.ca ↗ InfoNews Kamloops details
  42. Kamloops MLA Milobar resigns from BC Conservative caucus ↗ CFJC Today details
  43. Aug 7 Mike Bernier to lead new BC political party, CentreBC – Kamloops Chronicle ↗ Kamloops Chronicle details
  44. Jul 3 Kamloops MLAs pleased to retain critic roles in new B.C. Conservative shadow cabinet ↗ CFJC Today details
  45. Jun 30 B.C. Conservative leader Findlay retains former rival Milobar in shadow cabinet ↗ CFJC Today details
  46. Status quo shadow cabinet revealed by BC Conservatives ↗ Castanet Kamloops details
  47. Jun 10 BC Conservative leader Findlay appoints Barriere resident chief of staff ↗ CFJC Today details
  48. Jun 2 Findlay’s election creates opportunity for those in the middle ↗ CFJC Today details
  49. Jun 1 New leader doesn't mean former BC Conservative MLA Boultbee will return to party | iNFOnews.ca ↗ InfoNews Kamloops details
  50. Praise from Poilievre, but ex-B. C. Conservative MLAs say new leader will polarize | iNFOnews.ca ↗ InfoNews Kamloops details
  51. May 31 Despite contentious race Milobar confident in finding path forward with Findlay ↗ CFJC Today details
  52. Kerry-Lynne Findlay wins BC Conservative leadership race in narrow finish ↗ Castanet Kamloops details
  53. Milobar finishes 5th, Findlay elected BC Conservative leader ↗ CFJC Today details
  54. Findlay emerges as BC Conservative leader as Kamloops’ Milobar comes up well short ↗ Radio NL details
  55. May 30 Leadership vote to be announced for B.C. Conservative Party after Rustad ouster ↗ Global News Kamloops details
  56. Leadership vote to be announced for B.C. Conservative Party after Rustad ouster ↗ Castanet Kamloops details
  57. Leadership vote to be announced for B.C. Conservative Party after Rustad ouster ↗ CFJC Today details
  58. May 26 FORSETH – Who’s supporting who as leadership race down to the wire ↗ Armchair Mayor details
  59. May 23 Voting opens in B.C. Conservative leadership race, winner to be announced May 30 ↗ Castanet Kamloops details
  60. Voting opens in B.C. Conservative leadership race, winner to be announced May 30 ↗ CFJC Today details
  61. May 22 B.C. Conservative hopeful Findlay still in race after 'unproven and anonymous' claims ↗ Castanet Kamloops details
  62. May 20 Rob Shaw: Kerry-Lynne Findlay facing federal election probe ↗ Castanet Kamloops details
  63. Conservative Party of B.C. leadership race heats up as Milobar makes final bid for support ↗ CFJC Today details
  64. May 13 ROTHENBURGER – Milobar’s indigenous family ties should be a non-issue ↗ Armchair Mayor details

Linked Articles by Source

Castanet Kamloops

CFJC Today

KamloopsBCNow

InfoNews Kamloops

Armchair Mayor

CBC News British Columbia

Radio NL

Kamloops Chronicle

Global News Kamloops

Key People, Organizations, and Places

person: Peter Milobar , Kerry-Lynne Findlay , Ian Paton , David Eby , Rosalyn Bird , Ravi Kahlon , Bruce Banman , Kalie McCrystal , Mike Bernier , Stanislav Volo , Lorne Doerkson , Ward Stamer , Áʼa꞉líya Warbus , John Rustad , Mel Rothenburger

organization: BC Conservative Party , British Columbia Conservative Party , B.C. Conservative Party , Squamish Search and Rescue

city: Kamloops , Whistler, British Columbia , Campbell River , New Westminster , Tumbler Ridge

neighbourhood: Kamloops Centre

government_body: British Columbia Legislature , Kamloops Centre electoral district

health_facility: Vancouver Coastal Health

region: British Columbia

business: OpenAI

Source transparency: this page lists public news coverage of the topic above. We do not republish original reporting. Click any article title to view local metadata and a link to the original source. Last updated Sep 22, 2026 7:25 pm PDT.