Two efforts to build a more centrist alternative to the B.C. Conservatives are emerging from the party’s turmoil, but their leaders are unable to agree on which one should unite voters disillusioned with both the governing NDP and the embattled opposition.
asserted
one → build → NDP
CentreBC Leader Mike Bernier and Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar, who quit the Conservative caucus last month and announced his intention to start a new party, are friends who share many of the same values and much of the same policy agenda.
asserted
who → quit → agenda
CentreBC was founded in March, 2025, as an option for voters dissatisfied with the Conservatives.
asserted
CentreBC → found → Conservatives
But after several discussions, the two remain at an impasse on forging a united centre-right alternative, raising the prospect of a fractured vote in the future.
asserted
two → remain → future
The next provincial election is scheduled for October, 2028, but could be called much sooner.
uncertain
election → schedule → October
“We’re in that weird spot that we’ve got to figure out how to work together, otherwise we’re splitting the vote,” Mr. Bernier said.
asserted
Bernier → ’re → vote
Mr. Bernier, a former BC Liberal cabinet minister and MLA for Peace River South, became leader of CentreBC in July, feeling a Conservative party under Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay didn’t represent most British Columbians.
asserted
party → become → Columbians
CentreBC, founded by former BC United MLA Karin Kirkpatrick in 2025, presents itself as a “socially progressive, fiscally responsible choice.”
asserted
CentreBC → found → choice
Mr. Milobar left the Conservative caucus on Aug. 14, saying his values don’t align with Ms. Findlay’s.
asserted
values → leave → Findlay
Delta South MLA Ian Paton followed suit 10 days later, and the two announced their intention to form a new party with Mr. Milobar as interim leader.
asserted
two → follow → leader
Since Mr. Milobar’s departure, a total of nine sitting MLAs have quit the Conservative caucus, all citing issues with leadership, communication and differences over the party’s direction.
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all → sit → direction
The Conservative exodus has fuelled a growing push for a more centrist political option, with defectors and other politicos largely agreeing on the need but not the vehicle.
asserted
defectors → fuel → need
Ms. Findlay, meanwhile, is doubling down on her leadership, attributing her party’s challenges and disagreements to its rapid growth, while vowing to bring positive change.
asserted
Findlay → double → change
The B.C. Conservatives went from having less than 2 per cent of the vote in 2020 to coming within three seats of forming government four years later.
asserted
Conservatives → go → government
Ms. Findlay became the party’s leader in late May.
uncertain
Findlay → become → May
“I was elected to lead this party, and I intend to lead it with determination, with humility and with the experience to know that strong leaders listen, learn and make changes when changes are needed,” she said in a statement to media on Thursday.
asserted
she → elect → Thursday
Ms. Findlay has not responded to interview requests from The Globe and Mail.
asserted
Findlay → respond → Globe
Mr. Bernier said CentreBC has spent 18 months building the infrastructure of an established party, including its constitution, databases and website.
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CentreBC → say → constitution
At least 20 candidates have said they want to run for the party, he said.
asserted
he → say → party
Lakhwinder Jhaj will be CentreBC’s first candidate in the Sept. 26 Abbotsford-Mission by-election, where Ms. Findlay is vying for a seat.
asserted
Findlay → vie → seat
The Conservative leader will face off against Ms. Jhaj, a community advocate and businessperson, and NDP candidate Pam Alexis, a former cabinet minister who represented the riding from 2020 to 2024.
asserted
who → face → 2024
Ms. Jhaj previously ran for the BC Liberals and the NDP, as well as the Liberal Party of Canada.
asserted
Jhaj → run → Canada
Mr. Bernier said he made the case to Mr. Milobar that he could build on the organization CentreBC had already put in place.
uncertain
CentreBC → say → place
“I’ve had sit-down meetings with Peter and said, ‘Why would you start up something new and compete against something we’ve already started doing when we should all just be working together on a path to keep that centre, centre-right all in one tent?’ ” he said.
asserted
he → sit → tent
Mr. Bernier added that he has “no ego” in the venture and no attachment to being the one at the helm.
asserted
he → add → helm
“If we’re able to work together and Peter or somebody else wanted to be the leader of the party, by all means, let’s do that,” he said.
asserted
he → ’re → that
For Mr. Milobar, the question came down to which vehicle could attract enough sitting MLAs to give a new party a foothold in the legislature.
uncertain
vehicle → come → legislature
“There just wasn’t traction within the MLAs I was talking to, and others that were contemplating leaving, around CentreBC,” he said.
asserted
he → talk → CentreBC
“Some have felt that some of their policy, or where they were headed, is a little left of centre for their liking.
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they → feel → liking
”
Having sitting MLAs was important to establish the new party as a viable political force from day one, Mr. Milobar said.
asserted
Milobar → have → day
“That revolves around having as many sitting MLAs as possible within a new upstart party so that you can generate the news, you can be recognized inside the legislature and you can get that extra credibility and attention that comes with being an official party with seats inside of the legislature,” he said.
asserted
he → revolve → legislature
Mr Milobar said he is working with lawyers on the party’s constitution and expects the new organization to be up and running when the legislature’s fall session begins Oct. 5.
asserted
session → say → constitution
Randy Hawes, the former Conservative riding association president for Abbotsford-Mission, is among those trying to get the parties to work together, arguing that anything else is “just handing the NDP the government again.”
Mr. Hawes resigned from his position on Aug. 24 after learning through media reports that MLA Reann Gasper had given up her seat to give Ms. Findlay a chance to run.
“I don’t see this going anywhere unless they unite,” he said.
asserted
he → try → chance
“That’s an absolute must.”
asserted
That → ’ → ?
The Aporia
