BC CONSERVATIVES – Poll released by opponent claims Milobar trailing badly

Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar is trailing badly in the race to become the next leader of the BC Conservatives, claims one of his rivals.

However, the polling firm that provided the numbers for that assertion has been the subject of previous complaints about its polling methodology, and various polls so far have been fluid in their findings.

Kerry-Lynne Findlay, a former MP and federal cabinet minister in the Stephen Harper government, said today (Feb. 23, 2026) a new poll shows her with a commanding lead.

The poll by ERG National Research, carried out via text messaging, was released today and included a sampling of 528 people who indicated a willingness to buy a $25 party membership, she said.

ERG National Research is not connected to Eastern Research Group Inc., a consulting firm.

Findlay says the poll shows her with 44 per cent of first-choice support, compared to second place candidate Caroline Elliott at 19.5 per cent, former Save-On CEO Darrell Jones with 17 per cent, and all other candidates less than 10 per cent. Thirty-nine per cent remain undecided, according to the numbers released by Findlay.

Milobar, who has been waging a concerted social media campaign along with visiting various communities around the province, came in near the bottom, with only 7.5 per cent, slightly ahead of former BC Liberal cabinet minister Iain Black with 5.4 per cent,  Yuri Fulmer with 4.5 per cent, and Sheldon Clare with two per cent.

Perhaps worse news for Milobar is his standing as a second choice, where he found support among only 3.9 per cent, the lowest of all the candidates. Findlay was the second choice of  26 per cent.

Findlay said the respondents counted in the poll included only those who indicated they would  be willing to buy a party membership so they can take part in the vote for leader.

“I’m grateful to see this growing 25-point lead from conservative voters ready to join our party,” said Findlay. “It shows clear momentum for a reliable Conservative who will keep this party true to its common sense conservative values, and defeat the NDP.”

Her statement didn’t say who commissioned the poll. A telephone poll by Pallas Data released Feb. 19 — the same day the ERG National Research poll was conducted — of 988 eligible B.C. electors showed Caroline Elliott in the lead with 16 per cent, Jones with nine, Black with six and Milobar with five.

On Jan. 31, a Leger poll put Jones ahead with 19 per cent support, Findlay in second with 13, followed by Milobar with 12, Elliott with 12 and Black with 10. And an ERG National Research poll in earlier January showed Findlay at 22.8 per cent and Milobar in third with 18.5 per cent.

The Canadian Research Insights Council said in an undated alert apparently issued last year that it had received a number of complaints about ERG National Research’s methodology used in a poll asking which federal party people would vote for.

“ERG National Research is NOT a member of CRIC,” it said. “The messages they are sending are not in compliance with CRIC Standards. They do not indicate the purpose for asking these questions and they do not provide a way to contact them with questions and concerns.”

The national poll apparently asked respondents to provide their postal code and name. Findlay’s news release today doesn’t indicate whether the ERG National Research poll included those questions.

The Armchair Mayor has reached out to the Findlay campaign for clarification about the methodology of the new poll, as well as to the Milobar campaign for a reaction, and is awaiting a response.

Long-time party member Alan Forseth of Kamloops told ArmchairMayor.ca he hasn’t made up his mind who he’ll vote for but is personally skeptical about the validity of the poll. He pointed to one of the poll’s questions as released by Findlay that lists the candidates along with descriptions of their former positions.

“I really question the validity of the poll,” he said. “I have a very hard time believing she (Findlay) has 44 per cent.”

— Mel Rothenburger.