A leadership campaign led by Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centre, has been fined $7,500 by the BC Conservative Party’s Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) for failing to meet a key payment deadline.

In a notice issued April 4, 2026, the committee said Milobar’s campaign did not comply with party rules requiring leadership contestants to submit a $40,000 fee by April 1.

According to the decision, the campaign’s financial agent sent a photograph of a cheque to party staff on March 29, indicating the payment had been mailed through regular post. However, the party did not receive the cheque until April 2—one day after the deadline.

Under party rules, leadership contestants are required to ensure all payments are received on time. The late arrival constituted a breach, prompting the sanction.

The $7,500 fine will be deducted from the campaign’s $20,000 compliance deposit. The campaign has seven days to restore that deposit to its full amount.

Despite the penalty, the committee acknowledged the circumstances surrounding the delay. It noted the financial agent is a volunteer who appeared to make reasonable efforts to meet the deadline and has otherwise complied with all financial requirements. The committee also stated there was no indication the rules were intentionally violated.

Still, the ruling emphasized that ultimate responsibility rests with each campaign—and the candidate—to ensure deadlines are met.

The once-crowded field of candidates vying to replace ousted leader John Rustad has thinned considerably. In addition to Milobar, the remaining candidates are contractor Warren Hamm, entrepreneur Yuri Fulmer, former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Iain Black, commentator Caroline Elliott and former federal MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay.

Milobar, a longtime Kamloops politician and former mayor, is one of several candidates seeking the leadership of the BC Conservative Party.