Victoria, British Columbia – Teresa Wat, the MLA for Richmond‑Bridgeport, has become the sixth former BC Conservative legislator to join a fledgling right‑of‑centre grouping that is still searching for a name. Speaking on Friday, Wat said she and her colleagues are preparing for a “long‑haul” effort to unseat Premier David Eby’s New Democratic Party government, and she invited anyone who shares their goal to come aboard.
A Growing Caucus
Wat’s move brings the new party’s contingent to six members, a figure that interim leader Peter Milobar says will make it the third‑largest caucus in the provincial legislature once the house resumes sitting next month, behind only the NDP and the remaining Conservative benches. Milobar, who served as the opposition’s finance critic before leaving the Conservatives, welcomed Wat, pointing to her experience and competence as key factors in her decision.
“Our team is growing because there is a clear appetite for a serious alternative to the NDP,” Milobar said in a statement. He added that British Columbians are weary of what he described as out‑of‑control spending and a government responsible for the decline of several provincial sectors.
Motivation Behind the Defection
Wat explained that she joined the nascent outfit because she believes it can unite right‑of‑centre voters and offer a credible challenge to the NDP. In an interview she stressed that voters want a strong, credible alternative focused on affordability and competent governance. Her decision follows a public fallout with Conservative leader Kerry‑Lynne Findlay, whom Wat accused of making serious and unfounded allegations that questioned her loyalty to Canada, including a remark that labelled her “CCP” – a reference to the Chinese Communist Party.
Findlay later apologised in a private conversation, but Wat said the leader’s subsequent statement labelled her departure a betrayal of the volunteers, campaign workers and voters who helped elect her as a Conservative in 2024.
Broader Context of Conservative Discontent
Wat is one of nine former Conservative MLAs who have quit the caucus in recent weeks, citing concerns about the direction of the party under Findlay’s leadership. The first to leave was Milobar, followed by Ian Paton. The group expanded last week to include Rosalyn Bird, Bruce Banman and A‘a:liya Warbus. Banman has been particularly vocal, describing Findlay as “unelectable” and accusing her inner circle of imposing a “purity test” that demands legislators be “hard right enough.”
Wat’s own political journey began in 2013 when she was first elected to the legislature as a member of the former BC Liberal Party. Her shift to the new right‑of‑centre bloc marks another step in her evolving allegiance.
Upcoming Byelection and Future Prospects
The timing of Wat’s announcement is notable, as a byelection in the Abbotsford‑Mission riding is set for September 26, 2026. That contest will determine whether Findlay retains a seat in the legislature. Wat, who announced her departure from the Conservative caucus on August 26, said she hopes the momentum behind the new party will translate into electoral success in the coming months.
While the party remains unnamed, its leaders say they are organising a platform centred on fiscal responsibility, affordable living and competent governance. They argue that the current NDP administration has failed to deliver on these fronts, opening a space for a fresh right‑of‑centre voice.
Why it Matters
Teresa Wat’s defection underscores a growing fracture within British Columbia’s Conservative ranks and signals a potential realignment of right‑of‑centre politics in the province. If the nascent party can consolidate the disaffected legislators and attract broader voter support, it could challenge the NDP’s dominance in the next provincial election, reshaping BC’s political landscape and influencing policy debates on affordability, spending and governance. The coming byelection in Abbotsford‑Mission will serve as an early test of whether this new bloc can translate legislative momentum into electoral gains.
