A B.C. provincial flag hangs in front of the legislature building in Victoria on April 14, 2026. The Canadian Press/Chad Hipolito
Rosalyn Bird, the B.C. MLA for Prince George-Valemount, has announced that she is quitting the B.C. Conservative Party and will sit as an Independent—the third such departure in 11 days.
In an Aug. 25 statement, Bird alluded to the party’s values and political infighting as points of contention for her.
“Political parties play an important role in our democracy, but they are vehicles for our values; they cannot become substitutes for them,” said Bird, who was first elected during the 2024 provincial election.
The B.C. Conservatives have faced internal turmoil over the past two years, leading to the resignation or expulsion of eight MLAs—Bird makes nine—as well as the resignation of previous leader John Rustad.
The newly Independent MLA said she believes British Columbians are tired of “political infighting, name-calling and division,” while they expected their elected members to “disagree respectfully” and “work collaboratively where possible.”
“Transparency, accountability, integrity and responsible government will continue to guide my work,” Bird said.
During a news conference on Aug. 25, newly elected BC Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay said there could be other MLAs intending to leave the party caucus. This means they don’t “have a vision for prosperity and hope that we’re presenting for all British Columbians.”
“It means somewhere along the way, they’ve decided that know better than us where we should be going. We know what we’re doing,” she said.
She added that the party will have focus and clarity and show residents its determination to make their lives more affordable, make health care more accessible, reacquire good-paying jobs, and ensure resources can reach the market.
“We will do this. This is our primary agenda, to protect what British Columbians already have and help them have more,” Findlay said.
The Tory leader also said in a statement on Aug. 25 that the party will open nominations to fill recent vacancies.
“Our door is open to those who want to build, not tear down. The work of renewing British Columbia continues without distraction,” she said.
Other MLA Defections
Ian Paton of Delta South in Victoria announced on Aug. 24 that he was leaving the party to sit as an Independent, while he planned to help form a new political party with fellow ex-Tory Peter Milobar.
He said he decided to leave because he felt he was not aligned with Findlay.
Milobar announced on Aug. 14 that he was quitting the B.C. Conservatives to sit as an Independent, since he felt his values didn’t align with the direction in which Findlay is taking the party.
Milobar, who ran against Findlay in the recent leadership race, served as the B.C. Conservatives’ finance critic.
