Donegal Wilson is the 7th MLA to join new B.C. political party

Donegal Wilson is the latest former B.C. Conservative MLA to join the new political party being led by Peter Milobar.

The Boundary-Similkameen MLA is one of nine legislators who have left the Conservative caucus in recent weeks, citing concerns about Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s leadership.

Wilson announced Sept. 2 that she had lost confidence in Findlay as leader and would sit as an Independent.

“I did not intend to join another party, but what has become clear is that this new party is a group of people who are willing to put in the work and deliver on what British Columbians need in 2026,” said Wilson in a statement Monday.

Wilson said she believes the new party can be a credible alternative to the NDP.

“I am not interested in rebuilding an old, failed party. British Columbia has changed. We are working to understand what worked, be honest about what did not, and build for the British Columbia we want to have in the future,” said Wilson.

Milobar is serving as interim leader of the as-yet-unnamed party, which now has seven MLAs.

Former B.C. Conservative MLAs Ian Paton, Rosalyn Bird, Bruce Banman, Á’aíya Warbus and Teresa Wat have also joined the new party.

The party said it plans to hold an internal leadership vote before the fall legislative session begins Oct. 5.

Emily Joveski
Emily Joveski
Emily Joveski is the provincial news reporter for Vista Radio, based in Victoria B.C. She has worked in radio for more than a decade, and was previously on the airwaves as a broadcaster for The Canadian Press in Toronto. When she's not at her desk, she might be found exploring Vancouver Island or loitering in a local book store.

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