CP NewsAlert: MLA Ian Paton defects from B.C. Conservatives, plans to form new party

VICTORIA — There are plans for a new party in the British Columbia legislature as politicians return this fall, with two MLAs who have recently defected from the provincial Conservatives saying they want to provide an option for frustrated voters. Ian Paton, who has served as the MLA for Delta South since 2017, announced Monday that he was leaving the Conservative caucus to sit as an Independent. He’s the second MLA to make the move this month after Peter Milobar, who had been one of the Conservatives’ leading moderate voices, left citing a lack of “ideological alignment” with the party’s new leader, Kerry-Lynne Findlay.

At the time, Milobar said he had concerns about the party’s direction under Findlay, who has pushed the party right and said it will focus on “faith, freedom and family.” Paton, too, said Monday that the direction no longer aligned with his beliefs. He provided few details, but told reporters in Victoria that he felt there were “eyes” on him under Findlay’s leadership given he was previously a member of the former BC Liberals, then BC United, before leaving to join the Conservatives in 2024. Milobar joined Paton outside the legislature on Monday, saying they planned to register as an official party with Elections BC before the fall legislative session.

“We are in the process of getting things organized. There will be much more to come,” Milobar said. The former Opposition finance critic said he and Paton could be a party of two, but suggested there could be other defections from the Conservatives.

“I’m hearing and listening from caucus members, and some may still come, some may not. That is their choice and I respect that,” he said. Milobar said the were real fears around vote splitting, but he and Paton wanted to provide an option for voters who are dissatisfied with the governing New Democrats but “do not see a path forward” with the Conservatives under Findlay.

“It’ll be an uphill climb, absolutely, but it’s one that many, many people over the last week have been reaching out saying that they want to get on board,” he said. Paton said their intention was to “give a home to those who feel politically homeless” in B.C. Paton also said constituents in Delta South had been telling him they weren’t happy with the way the Conservatives were moving, with as many as “eight people or nine people out of 10” approaching him to deliver that message.…