Make it seven: MLA Donegal Wilson latest to join new B.C. centre-right party

The centre-right party challenging B.C. Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s rocky tenure has won another convert.

MLA Donegan Wilson, who represents the riding of Boundary-Similkameen and left the Conservative caucus two weeks ago, announced Monday that she will join six others in the new, as-yet-unnamed provincial party headed by interim leader Peter Milobar.

In a statement announcing the latest defection, Wilson reiterated that her decision was because of a lack of trust in Findlay, who has ousted several longtime Conservative operatives and alienated MLAs who have been critical of her agenda and lack of communication.

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“When I left the B.C. Conservative caucus, I left because I could no longer support the leadership of Kerry-Lynne Findlay,” said Wilson. “I said then that I was leaving a caucus, not my principles, and that has not changed.

“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.”

Seven MLAs left the Conservative party in August: Courtenay-Comox MLA Brennan Day, Delta South MLA Ian Paton, Prince George-Valemount MLA Rosalyn Bird, Kamloops Centre MLA Milobar, Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman and Chilliwack-Cultus Lake MLA Áʼa:líya Warbus.

Wilson jumped ship on the same day Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis also left caucus. McInnis has not yet announced his intentions, but said at the time that he could not in good faith campaign for Findlay in her bid for a byelection win in Abbotsford-Mission.

One of the defections was personal. Wat left after private texts between Findlay and her team were posted in which Findlay insinuated that Wat was associated with the Chinese Communist Party — remarks that Wat called “distasteful” and “hurtful.”