Five former B.C. Conservative MLAs form new provincial party

Five former British Columbia MLAs who recently left the Conservative caucus are creating a new provincial party and hope to have it ready before the legislature resumes next month. Rosalyn Bird, Bruce Banman and Áʼa꞉líya Warbus said they are joining Peter Milobar and Ian Paton in the new party, which has not yet been named. The five are among nine MLAs who have departed the B.C. Conservative caucus in recent weeks under leader KerryLynne Findlay. Milobar said the group wants to offer voters an alternative to the governing NDP and to the current Conservative party. He said they are working with Elections BC on the registration process, plan to choose a permanent leader before the legislature returns on Oct. 5, and intend to focus on affordability, the economy, health care, taxation, resource development and land and property rights.