VICTORIA — British Columbia legislator Teresa Wat says she has joined the still-unnamed party co-founded by former B.C. Conservative leadership candidate and Opposition finance critic Peter Milobar, becoming its sixth member.

The Richmond-area MLA is among nine legislators who have quit the provincial Conservatives in recent weeks, citing a range of concerns about party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay.

Milobar was the first to leave last month, followed by Ian Paton, and the two announced they would form a new party that grew to five members last week as Rosalyn Bird, Bruce Banman and A’a:liya Warbus joined the ranks.

Wat says in a statement she joined because she believes the new party, which has yet to be named, can unite people and unseat the governing New Democrats.

Milobar, who is currently serving as the party’s interim leader, says Wat’s decision shows there is momentum behind the party, which will have the third-largest caucus after the NDP and Conservatives when the legislature resumes next month.

Wat’s move comes ahead of a Sept. 26 byelection that will determine whether Findlay will have a seat in the legislature as the MLA for Abbotsford-Mission.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2026.

Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press