Local MLA part of five-person breakaway creating new political alternative
Five MLAs who left the B.C. Conservatives have publicly declared they are forming a new party, a development that reshapes the province’s opposition landscape and draws Abbotsford directly into the story. Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman is among the group that announced the move on Sept. 4, joining colleagues from the Fraser Valley and beyond.
The announcement names the five as: Prince George–Valemount MLA Rosalyn Bird, Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman, Chilliwack–Cultus Lake MLA Á’a:líya Warbus, Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar and Delta South MLA Ian Paton. The five had all left the B.C. Conservatives in recent weeks under new party leader Kerry‑Lynne Findlay.
| MLA | Riding | Departure from B.C. Conservatives (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Rosalyn Bird | Prince George–Valemount | Early Sept. 2026 |
| Bruce Banman | Abbotsford South | Aug. 27, 2026 |
| Á’a:líya Warbus | Chilliwack–Cultus Lake | Early Sept. 2026 |
| Peter Milobar | Kamloops Centre | Aug. 14, 2026 |
| Ian Paton | Delta South | Aug. 25, 2026 |
The splintering follows a rapid series of departures: the report notes that nine MLAs left the B.C. Conservatives within about three weeks. Party infighting and disagreement with the direction under new leadership were cited by the departing MLAs.
Stated priorities and the pitch to voters
At the centre of the new party’s appeal, according to one of the founders, is a push to present a “stable, thoughtful alternative to the NDP.” The group says it will focus on issues it contends the New Democratic Party has neglected.
- Economy
- Health care
- Affordability
- Taxation
- Land rights
“This party will be focused on the issues the NDP has neglected for far too long: the economy, healthcare, affordability, taxation and land rights,” Rosalyn Bird said in announcing the new grouping.
Peter Milobar characterised the timeline as compressed but said progress is being made. Speaking to a provincial broadcaster shortly after the announcement, he emphasised that some independent MLAs remain undecided about joining immediately and described the choice to leave a caucus and join a new party as substantial.
“Everyone’s on slightly different timelines and and thought processes, and and I totally respect that,” Milobar said, adding that just leaving a caucus is a “massive decision, let alone whether you want to to join a new party immediately or wait and see.”
What this means for Abbotsford
For Abbotsford residents, the change is significant because it alters who represents the city’s interests in the legislature and may affect how opposition politics are organised in Victoria. Bruce Banman’s departure from the B.C. Conservatives means Abbotsford South will be represented by an MLA aligned with a nascent political formation rather than the party under which he was elected.
Local stakeholders — from business groups worried about economic policy to health‑care advocates focused on hospital and long‑term care capacity — will be watching to see whether the new party prioritizes regional concerns differently than established caucuses. The group’s stated emphasis on taxation and land rights could have direct resonance in the Fraser Valley, where growth, housing affordability and farmland protection remain central community debates.
As the fall legislative session approaches, the new party will have to decide on structure, membership and formal registration steps. It also faces the immediate political calculation of whether to seek rapid expansion by inviting other independents to join, or to consolidate a defined platform before recruiting more members.
For now, Abbotsford residents have a changed representation in Victoria and a new political experiment to monitor as the provincial campaign calendar and legislative priorities evolve.
