Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman has left the BC Conservative caucus and will continue serving in the legislature as an Independent, becoming the latest in a series of MLAs to break with the Official Opposition.
Banman announced his decision on Thursday, August 27, saying conversations with constituents following the party’s leadership race contributed to his decision.
He said he had become concerned that the Conservatives were narrowing, rather than expanding, the coalition of voters they would need to defeat Premier David Eby’s BC NDP. Banman also said constituents had repeatedly raised doubts with him about the party’s electoral prospects under leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay.
Banman is the sixth Conservative MLA since August 14 to leave the caucus and continue sitting as an Independent.
Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar, who ran against Findlay in the Conservative leadership contest, left the caucus on August 14. Delta South MLA Ian Paton followed on August 24, Prince George-Valemount MLA Rosalyn Bird on August 25, and Richmond-Bridgeport MLA Teresa Wat and Courtenay-Comox MLA Brennan Day both announced their departures on August 26.
Milobar and Paton have said they intend to establish a new provincial political party and seek registration with Elections BC before the legislature resumes for its fall sitting.
The caucus departures have coincided with a series of personnel and executive changes within the Conservative organization since Findlay won the party leadership on May 30.
Executive director Angelo Isidorou left the organization at the end of July. Aisha Estey was replaced as party president in August, while vice-president Sharon White left the party board. Findlay also directed her chief of staff to terminate caucus director of operations Apollo Chung on August 26.
Reann Gasper resigned as MLA for Abbotsford-Mission on August 22, creating an opportunity for Findlay to seek election to the legislature.
Gasper was subsequently appointed Findlay’s deputy chief of staff. Findlay is preparing to seek the Conservative nomination in Abbotsford-Mission ahead of an anticipated byelection. A byelection date has not yet been set.
Findlay, a former federal Conservative MP and cabinet minister, currently leads the provincial party without holding a seat in the BC legislature.
Banman is the sixth BC Conservative MLA since August 14 to leave the caucus and continue sitting as an Independent. Reann Gasper also left the Conservative ranks during that period, but resigned her Abbotsford-Mission seat rather than remaining in the legislature as an Independent.