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

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

Milobar and six other recent Opposition Conservative defectors had said previously they would form their own party, but they will instead join CentreBC, along with Eleanor Sturko, who was ejected from the Conservative caucus last year.

Mike Bernier says he’s stepping aside as leader of CentreBC to make way for Milobar, whose resignation from the Conservative caucus in August triggered an exodus.

That continued with the exit of three more legislators from the Conservative caucus in the hours before CentreBC’s announcement, bringing to 12 the losses for the official Opposition since Kerry Lynne-Findlay took over as leader.

Milobar says the Conservatives are a “clown college,” and CentreBC plans to run candidates in all 93 ridings for an early election that he thinks is imminent.

Premier David Eby says he hasn’t made any decision on an election date but said this week that he told Elections BC and his caucus to be “election ready” amid disruptions posed by the U.S. trade war. 

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