Eight MLAs Defect to CentreBC Amid Conservative Party Turmoil

Eight former British Columbia Conservative legislators joined the CentreBC party on September 18, 2026, with Peter Milobar assuming leadership of the group. The defection follows a period of severe instability for the B.C. Conservative Party, which expelled three legislators—including former leader John Rustad—from its caucus. The party's caucus has shrunk from 44 members following the 2024 election to 25.

Milobar and six other MLAs joined CentreBC to avoid splitting the centrist vote, making the group the third largest in the provincial legislature. Milobar characterized the prospect of a snap election as "unnecessary" and an attempt by the government to avoid legislative scrutiny. Meanwhile, B.C. Conservative leader Kerry Lynne-Findlay insisted the party is ready for a vote and refused to resign despite internal calls for her departure.

Public confidence in the Conservatives appears strained; while Findlay claimed readiness during a speech at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, her party simultaneously launched an "Emergency Election Fund," warning supporters that the government is racing to catch them unprepared. Premier David Eby has declined to announce a specific date for an early election, stating he has not yet made a decision, though he is considering requests to avoid overlapping with municipal elections scheduled for October 17.