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Bruce Banman, the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Abbotsford-South, has announced his resignation from the BC Conservative Party, becoming the latest in a growing line of MLAs to break with the party under its new leadership.
Banman Cites Shrinking Political Tent Under Findlay
Banman released a statement on Thursday explaining his decision, pointing directly to concerns about the party’s direction since Kerry-Lynne Findlay won the leadership race. He said conversations with constituents had convinced him that the Conservatives were losing ground rather than gaining it.
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“Since the leadership race concluded and Kerry-Lynne Findlay was selected to lead the party, I am hearing from constituents and seeing with my own eyes the political tent needed to defeat the NDP getting smaller, not larger,” Banman said.
He framed his departure not as an ideological shift but as a practical response to what he described as an unwinnable situation. “The goal in politics is to make the tent bigger. To listen to the majority. It’s not about left or right. It’s about doing what’s right,” he added.
A Wave of Departures From the BC Conservatives
Banman’s exit adds to a significant wave of defections from the BC Conservative caucus. He joins Brennan Day, Teresa Wat, Rosalyn Bird, Ian Paton, and Peter Milobar, all of whom have recently left the party. Each departing MLA has cited concerns about Findlay’s leadership as a central reason for their decision.
Banman said residents from all walks of life had approached him with the same message. “Person after person has informed me they have decided that our new leader is unelectable,” he stated. He described leaving as a decision made “with a heavy heart” and called on other MLAs, regardless of their political affiliation, to join him as independents in the BC Legislature.
Departure Follows Recent Public Show of Unity
The timing of Banman’s announcement drew attention given that Findlay had publicly praised him just four days earlier. On August 23, 2026, Findlay posted a photo alongside Banman on social media, thanking him and several other MLAs for hosting a community meet-and-greet event in Abbotsford.
The rapid turn of events underscores the depth of the internal tensions now facing the BC Conservative Party. With multiple sitting MLAs now choosing to sit as independents, the party faces mounting pressure to stabilize its caucus ahead of any future electoral contest against the NDP government.
Banman made clear that defeating the NDP remains his primary motivation. “For the sake of the future of this province, we must defeat this NDP government,” he said, framing his move to the crossbenches as the most effective path toward that goal.
