B.C. Conservative MLA Bruce Banman Leaves Party, Will Sit as Independent

B.C. Conservative MLA for Abbotsford-South Bruce Banman has left the party and announced that he will sit as an independent member in the legislature.

Banman is the sixth MLA to leave the party this month amid growing concerns over leader Karin Kirkpatrick Findlay’s leadership. In a statement, Banman said he had been receiving consistent feedback from residents that Findlay, who currently does not hold a seat in the legislature, is unable to lead the party to an election victory.

He said the party needs to broaden its political appeal to defeat Premier David Eby’s NDP government, but argued that the B.C. Conservatives are currently moving in the opposite direction and becoming increasingly isolated.

Banman was among the first MLAs to help the B.C. Conservatives gain official party status in the legislature. Before him, Teresa Wat, Brennan Day, Rosalyn Bird, Ian Paton and Peter Milobar had also left the party in recent days, citing concerns over the leadership.