Centre-right rivalry emerges as B.C. Conservatives continue to fracture

“We’re at seven and counting,” Bernier said. “I don’t see this ending anytime soon because we’ve seen the frustration that people have with her leadership trying to take the party in a direction that I think a lot of MLAs didn’t support or didn’t want to see.”

Bernier argued the Conservatives can no longer be viewed as a government-in-waiting, even if some former members eventually return should Findlay step aside.

“I would argue the damage is done. The trust is lost,” he said. “People are going to be looking for another alternative.”

Bernier believes Centre BC is benefiting from the Conservatives’ troubles. He says recent province-wide tours have generated growing interest in the party, along with potential candidates and new riding associations.

However, Bernier warned that efforts by former Conservative MLAs to launch yet another centre-right party could split the vote and ultimately benefit the governing NDP.

“We need to work together. We shouldn’t be trying to split the vote,” Bernier said. “If they start to try to form yet another moderate centre-right big tent party, which is what Centre BC is, we’re all going to be fighting for the same votes, which just allows the NDP to win again.”

Those comments were directed, at least in part, toward a new political venture being spearheaded by Kamloops Centre Independent MLA Peter Milobar and fellow Independent MLA Ian Paton.

Milobar said momentum behind their proposed party has been strong since the pair announced plans last week.

“We’ve made a lot of strides in the last week,” Milobar said. “There’s been a lot of outpouring from a wide range of people across the province wanting to help and wanting to get engaged.”

According to Milobar, paperwork has already been submitted to Elections BC and discussions continue with other MLAs considering their political future.

Responding to Bernier’s concerns about vote splitting, Milobar suggested his organization offers a more viable path forward because it is expected to attract sitting MLAs from across the political spectrum.

“I would hope, frankly, that as that rolls out, that Centre BC realizes that we cannot afford those votes that they’re talking about and eventually agrees to work with us, not against us,” he said.

Milobar also rejected the notion that conservative voters could simply rally behind the existing Conservative Party.

“We have to make this happen,” he said. “The direction the Conservative Party of B.C. was headed and is headed, they were not going to defeat the NDP in the next election anyways.”

With the Legislature scheduled to return in October and more Conservative MLAs reportedly weighing their options, the battle to unite B.C.’s fractured centre-right appears to be only beginning.

by Greg Fry

Centre-right rivalry emerges as B.C. Conservatives continue to fracture

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