Wilson Becomes Seventh MLA in Milobar's New B.C. Centre-Right Party
Donegal Wilson, the MLA for Boundary-Similkameen, said Sept. 14 she has joined Peter Milobar's new, still-unnamed party as its seventh member. The Globe and Mail
Wilson left the B.C. Conservative caucus — the group of party MLAs in the legislature — on Sept. 2. She said then she could no longer support the leadership of Kerry-Lynne Findlay. The Globe and Mail
She left with Scott McInnis, the MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke. Both planned at first to sit as Independents, meaning they would work outside any party group. On leaving, Wilson said: "I remain a conservative. My principles have not changed."
Wilson confirmed the move in a statement on her official Facebook page. She said she is committed to building a party focused on British Columbians. The group is described as a B.C. centre-right party, on the conservative side of the political spectrum. Vancouver Sun
The party was started by Milobar, the MLA for Kamloops Centre, and Ian Paton. Bruce Banman, A'a:liya Warbus, Rosalyn Bird and Teresa Wat had already joined Milobar and Paton before Wilson. The Globe and Mail
Nine MLAs have now left the B.C. Conservative caucus in recent weeks. Former Conservatives Scott McInnis and Brennan Day say they will sit as Independents. Milobar's group plans to sit together as a caucus when the legislature returns next month.
The Legislative Assembly is scheduled to return Oct. 5, 2026. The 43rd Parliament has 93 members.
Findlay was elected B.C. Conservative leader by a narrow margin in May. Voters in Abbotsford-Mission will decide Sept. 26 whether Findlay will have a seat in the legislature. The Globe and Mail
As recently as Feb. 18, 2025, Hansard — the official written record of the legislature — listed both Wilson and Milobar as members of the Conservative Party of B.C.
The broader context here is timing. A new caucus arriving intact for the fall sitting affects daily business in the House. Whips, who organize attendance and votes, plus speaking lists, committee jobs and question period plans all run through recognized caucuses. A seven-member bloc that votes together has weight even before any formal rules are settled.
Looking at what this means for the Conservatives, the sequence matters. The departures followed the close leadership result in May and have continued before the sitting begins. The Sept. 26 vote in Abbotsford-Mission is now a parliamentary test as well as a political one. A leader without a seat faces limits in the chamber. A leader with a seat still leads a smaller and divided caucus.
The practical question to watch is whether the new group can stay together. An unnamed party must still settle a name, a constitution, fundraising and staff while getting ready for a sitting that starts in three weeks. Sitting as a caucus signals intent. Staying together through a session takes agreement on votes, messages and finding candidates.
In my view, Wilson's path shows how fluid this period has been. She moved from Conservative to Independent to a new centre-right home in less than two weeks. That pattern is familiar to anyone who has worked through a caucus split. The public record shows the stated reason was leadership. The voting record will show how distinct the new group is in policy.
