Conservatives in chaos as eight join CentreBC and Eby says no decision on early vote

A group of eight former B.C. Conservative legislators announced Friday that they were joining the CentreBC party, with Peter Milobar taking over as leader of the grouping that will become the third largest in the provincial legislature.

The announcement that reshapes the political landscape in B.C. came hours after ongoing upheaval within the provincial Conservative party saw three legislators expelled from caucus — former leader John Rustad, former interim leader Trevor Halford, and Skeena MLA Claire Rattée. 

Milobar called the Conservatives a “clown college,” and said CentreBC planned to run candidates in all 93 ridings for an early election that he believes is both imminent and “ridiculous” for Premier David Eby to be considering.

He said the party is a “viable, serious, legitimate voting option. 

CentreBC was formed in March 2025 and it announced this summer that former legislator and cabinet minister Mike Bernier would lead the party, but Bernier said on Friday that he was stepping aside for Milobar. 

“What Mike and myself have been doing quite literally over the last few weeks (is) trying to build a coalition of two parties to come together as one, trying to take dramatic aggressive steps to get ready for a general election that’s unnecessary in its timing,” Milobar said.

Eby was asked about an early provincial vote at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver.

“We haven’t made any decisions yet,” he told the outgoing president of the union Cori Ramsay.

But he said he didn’t think it was “ever wrong to ask British Columbians about which direction we should go,” while later telling reporters “I don’t have any announcement about an election today.”

Local government officials have asked Eby not to call a provincial vote during the municipal election campaign period that starts on Saturday, ahead of voting on Oct. 17.

The premier said he would take the wishes of local leaders “under advisement.”

The municipal leaders passed an emergency resolution on the last day of their convention calling on the provincial government not to trigger an early vote “to preserve the integrity of the municipal election process.”

Eby said he was aware of the resolution passed on the floor and he understood “the anxiety of candidates in the room.”

“The issues faced by local governments are crucial for the future of the province. It’s important that they have the attention that they need, and I understand why local leaders would be concerned about overlapping elections.”

He said the government would consider the resolution, like it does all resolutions that come forward from local governments.

Milobar, a former finance minister, and six other recent Opposition Conservative defectors had said previously they would form their own party. Instead, they and Eleanor Sturko, who was ejected from the Conservative caucus last year, are joining the upstart CentreBC, which previously lacked representation in the legislature.

Milobar’s resignation from the Conservative caucus in August triggered an exodus.

That continued on Friday, with Rustad, Halford and Rattée bringing to 12 the losses for the official Opposition since Kerry Lynne-Findlay took over as leader.

Findlay said on social media that the trio had been removed from caucus “effective immediately.”

“With an election potentially on the horizon, our focus must be on British Columbians and defeating David Eby’s NDP government,” she said.

“The BC Conservative Party is the only free-enterprise team equipped with a fully funded campaign to take on the NDP, and we need everyone focused on building our movement and preparing to win.”

Rattée issued a scathing statement on Friday saying Findlay must resign immediately.

“That she is attempting to remove B.C. Conservative incumbent MLAs on the eve of a potential snap election is yet another example of her demonstrating poor judgment that doesn’t befit someone attempting to become premier,” Rattée said.

Rattée said Findlay was driving key members of her team “into situations that will undoubtedly split votes and give more seats to the NDP.”

She disputed whether Findlay had the authority to have her removed from the party.

Findlay said Thursday that she had no intention of resigning.

In addition to the caucus depletion, recent upheaval in the Conservative ranks has included the revelation that a private investigator was hired to look into some MLAs, including Rattée.

Lawyer Bruce Hallsor, a King’s counsel, told The Canadian Press on Thursday that he was retained by the party look into the claims about the private eye, and he had found the Conservatives’ former executive director Elaine Allan hired the investigator.

Allan, who served briefly as executive director of the party until being relieved of her duties last month, has not responded to requests for comment.

Rattée said in Friday’s statement that she was saddened to find out she had come under investigation, calling it a “complete lapse of judgment” by those involved.

The B.C. Conservative caucus numbered 44 after the 2024 election but it has now shrunk to 25. The NDP has 47 members, representing a one-seat majority, while there are two Green MLAs and two vacancies.

Seventeen MLAs are listed by the legislature as Independents, including those who are joining CentreBC.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2026.