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Mike Bernier has resigned as leader of the CentreBC party to allow Peter Milobar, a former B.C. Conservative Party member, to lead instead. This decision follows three more MLAs leaving the opposition B.C. Conservatives, bringing the total number of defectors since May to 12. The move is partly strategic, as Milobar's group needs to join an existing party to compete in potential upcoming elections due to current byelection rules that prevent new parties from registering.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Mike Bernier resigned as leader of the CentreBC party to allow former B.C. Conservative Party member Peter Milobar to take over leadership after three more MLAs left the opposition B.C. Conservatives, bringing the total number of members lost since Kerry-Lynne Findlay became leader in May to 12. The move came amid speculation that Bernier and Milobar would join forces due to CentreBC not being officially registered with Elections B.C., which does not register new parties during a byelection campaign currently underway in Abbotsford-Mission. Peter Milobar, along with eight former BC Conservatives, joined CentreBC, making it the third-largest party in the B.C. legislature. The group is focused on issues like economic affordability, healthcare innovation, and crime prevention for British Columbians.
Written for “New Party Leadership Reshuffle” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
CentreBC leader resigns to make way for former B.C. Conservative to lead party
The Latest
asserted
Conservative → resign → party
- Mike Bernier has announced his resignation as leader of the new CentreBC party, in order to allow former B.C. Conservative Party member Peter Milobar to lead instead.
asserted
Milobar → announce → order
- The two politicians are holding a news conference after three more MLAs left the opposition B.C. Conservatives earlier today.
asserted
MLAs → hold → Conservatives
- The Conservatives have now lost a total of 12 members since Kerry-Lynne Findlay became leader in May.
- Earlier Friday, B.C. Premier David Eby said he hadn't yet decided on whether to call a snap provincial election, two years ahead of schedule.
uncertain
he → lose → schedule
Updates
September 18
Karin LarsenMilobar to become leader of CentreBC
Bernier begins the news conference by announcing he is stepping down as CentreBC leader to make way for Milobar.
asserted
he → become → Milobar
Milobar had previously announced he was forming his own party.
asserted
he → announce → party
Fellow independents greet one another before news conference
asserted
independents → greet → conference
At the news conference outside the Vancouver Convention Centre, Teresa Wat has greeted fellow MLA independent Elenore Sturko.
asserted
Wat → greet → Sturko
"Welcome home," Wat said as the pair shared a hug.
asserted
pair → say → hug
Sturko was removed from the Conservative caucus under former leader John Rustad, at the beginning of a year of turmoil, leadership elections and defections from the party.
asserted
Sturko → remove → party
Why Bernier and Milobar might join forces
uncertain
Bernier → join → forces
I’m a political reporter at the news conference in Vancouver.
asserted
I → ’m → Vancouver
Speculation has grown that Bernier and Milobar will join forces, for a simple reason: Milobar’s group of likeminded MLAs who have left the B.C. Conservatives are not officially registered as a political party with Elections B.C. — and the elections agency doesn’t register new parties during a byelection campaign, which is currently underway in Abbotsford-Mission.
asserted
which → grow → Mission
That means a snap provincial election before that byelection on Sept. 26 would prevent them from being on ballots as an official party, and they would instead be considered independents.
asserted
they → mean → party
So, they need to find a registered party to join forces with.
asserted
they → need → forces
Meanwhile, the CentreBC party — led by Bernier, a former B.C. Liberal and B.C. United MLA — wants to compete in the next election, but have fewer organizers surrounding them than Milobar, and no sitting MLAs.
asserted
party → lead → Milobar
So it's understandable why some sort of agreement has been discussed.
asserted
sort → discuss → agreement
B.C. Conservatives' turmoil continues
It’s already been a tumultuous day in B.C. politics with three more MLAs — Trevor Halford, Claire Rattée and former leader John Rustad — departing the B.C. Conservative Party caucus, bringing the number of MLAs who have left since Kerry-Lynne Findlay became leader in May to an even dozen.
uncertain
Findlay → continue → dozen
- Karin Larsen
Mike Bernier and Peter Milobar holding news conference
asserted
Bernier → hold → conference
It's hard to say for sure, but at 1:15 p.m. PT, former Conservative caucus member Peter Milobar and Mike Bernier, leader of the new CentreBC party, are holding a joint news conference in Vancouver.
asserted
Milobar → say → Vancouver
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