MLA for Abbotsford South since 2020 and former mayor of Abbotsford, running again for the Conservative Party of BC.
Bruce Banman won Abbotsford South as a BC Liberal in 2020 and as a Conservative in 2024, with 61.61% of the vote. He left the Conservative caucus on August 27, 2026, joined CentreBC on September 18, and went back to the Conservatives on September 22, according to news reports. The legislature lists him as Independent. Elections BC lists him as the Conservative Party candidate. Global News reports that he was mayor of Abbotsford from 2011 to 2014.
A researched record of Bruce Banman's 23 commitments, 13 recorded votes and 19 public statements, with 10 news items. Most come from what he said in the legislature in 2026 and from his leadership campaign website.
On dates without a confirmed appearance the public schedule is unknown; the candidate may still have activities that day. This static page changes only when its research is updated.
01 / Introduction
About Bruce Banman
Bruce Banman is the Conservative Party candidate in Abbotsford South on the Elections BC candidate list stamped October 1, 2026 12:00:07 PM. He is the only accepted candidate in the district on that copy. Nominations stay open until 1 p.m. on October 3, 2026.
Elections BC statements of votes show he won Abbotsford South in 2020 for the BC Liberal Party with 9,730 votes, 44.69% of the valid vote. He won again in 2024 for the Conservative Party with 13,053 votes, 61.61%, ahead of Sarah Kooner of the BC NDP with 7,454 votes.
On September 13, 2023 he left BC United, the new name of the BC Liberals, and joined the Conservative Party of BC. CFJC Today reported his statement that he made the move to keep his promise to his community. The Canadian Press reports that his move gave the Conservatives official party status in the legislature. A caucus release of October 1, 2025 named him caucus whip, and a caucus release of June 30, 2026 named him Critic for Tourism.
He entered the race for Conservative leader in February 2026. On March 15 he withdrew and endorsed Yuri Fulmer, and became co-chair of Fulmer's campaign, Victoria News reported. Kerry-Lynne Findlay won the leadership in May.
On August 27, 2026 he left the Conservative caucus to sit as an Independent. In his statement he said many people had told him the new leader, Findlay, was "unelectable", CBC News and The Canadian Press reported. On September 4 he joined a new party formed by Peter Milobar and Ian Paton, and on September 18 that group of MLAs joined CentreBC. Vista Radio reported on September 22 that Milobar and the MLAs who had joined with him, a group it names as including Banman, were going back to the Conservatives after Findlay resigned. The party now lists him as its Abbotsford South candidate. The legislature's record for the current Parliament still lists him as Independent.
In the legislature in 2026 he spoke against the budget, the new sales tax on business services and the freedom of information bill, and asked questions about long-term care beds, forensic psychiatric care, encampments on provincial highway land in Abbotsford, the farm status of small parcels and a small hydro producer.
Before provincial politics he was mayor of Abbotsford. Global News reported that he defeated mayor George Peary in 2011 and lost to Henry Braun in 2014. City of Abbotsford records show he was elected to city council in 2018 with 17,224 votes and resigned on February 18, 2021 after his election as MLA. The party page and the legislature's member page say he worked as a chiropractor and owned a small business. These are his own and his party's descriptions.
Published positions and selected commitments, separated by election cycle. Status labels describe the evidence reviewed, not a numerical score or a complete audit of the platform. Council approval is different from delivery.
23 commitments shown · Checked Oct 1
2026 · Public servicesCampaign pledge
Build the delayed long-term care homes now
In a statement on March 2, 2026, Banman said the 2026 budget delayed seven approved long-term care projects, including a 200-bed home in Abbotsford, and asked the government to fund care home construction now.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He names the projects and their bed counts, which describe the delay. He gives no cost and no date of his own.
What still needs checking
Does a later budget restore the Abbotsford long-term care project?
In question period on March 31, 2026, Banman cited a BC Review Board report on a lack of forensic psychiatric beds, programs and housing, and asked why the budget for this care was not increased.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He gives no number of beds, no amount and no date.
His leadership policy page says he would end open drug use and replace safe consumption sites with treatment.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He wrote this in his leadership campaign of February 2026. He withdrew from that race on March 15, 2026, and the site was still online on 2026-10-01. voche.me found no statement from his Abbotsford South campaign that repeats it. It gives no number of treatment spaces, cost or date.
Supportive housing tied to treatment and local consent
In a leadership campaign release of February 9, 2026, Banman said that under his government no supportive housing project would go ahead without local consultation and community support, and that mental health services and safety planning would be a condition of provincial approval.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He wrote this in his leadership campaign of February 2026. He withdrew from that race on March 15, 2026, and the site was still online on 2026-10-01. voche.me found no statement from his Abbotsford South campaign that repeats it. It gives no number of homes, cost or date.
Ban smoke and vapour from drugs in supportive housing
In committee on Bill 11, the 2026 tenancy bill, on April 13, 2026, Banman spoke for an amendment on smoke and vapour in supportive housing. He said health care workers and other residents are exposed to harmful vapours.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
The government said it could not support the amendment. He gives no cost or date.
What still needs checking
Did the final Bill 11 or its rules address smoke and vapour in supportive housing?
In the Bill 2 debate on March 5, 2026, Banman objected to the new provincial sales tax (PST) on accounting and engineering services used to build homes, and said making anything to do with construction free of PST would increase home building.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He gives no cost to the budget and no date.
What still needs checking
Does the Province change the sales tax on services used in construction?
In question period on March 9, 2026, Banman asked why the government was dismissing business concerns about extending the provincial sales tax (PST) to professional services.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He states a position. He gives no cost or date.
What still needs checking
Does the Province change the sales tax on professional services?
In a statement on the 2026 budget on his leadership campaign site, Banman criticized the deficits and the new items under the provincial sales tax and said that as Premier he would get B.C. back to balance. In his budget speech of February 23, 2026 he called the budget an assault on seniors, working families and small businesses.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He wrote this in his leadership campaign of February 2026. He withdrew from that race on March 15, 2026, and the site was still online on 2026-10-01. voche.me found no statement from his Abbotsford South campaign that repeats it. It gives no year for balance and no spending cut.
Cut political staff and deputy minister car allowances
In question period on March 12, 2026, Banman asked how many political appointees the Finance Minister would cut while public sector jobs were being cut. On April 21, 2026 he objected to $14,000 car allowances for deputy ministers.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He states a position. He gives no amount to save and no date.
What still needs checking
Does the Province change the car allowance policy?
On May 5, 2026, Banman was the opposition speaker on a motion to delay second reading of Bill 9, the freedom of information bill, for six months. He said the delay would let members define the new grounds for refusing requests and review a new fee on records already made public.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
The vote index shows he voted for the delay on the sitting that began May 6 and against the bill at third reading on May 28. He gives no cost.
What still needs checking
Was Bill 9 passed, and does a later government change it?
Independent oversight of hiring in the public service
On March 30, 2026, Banman spoke for a motion that the merit principle in the B.C. Public Service be overseen by an independent officer of the Legislature. The vote index shows he voted for the motion on March 31.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He gives no cost and no date.
What still needs checking
Does the Province restore an independent merit officer?
Let police enforce the rules at encampments on highway land
In question period on April 1 and April 27, 2026, Banman named encampments on Ministry of Transportation land in Abbotsford, a fatal shooting and a homicide there, and asked the minister to let police enforce the no-camping rules.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He gives no number, cost or date. The minister said in reply that the member was incorrect.
What still needs checking
Does the ministry change its direction on enforcement at these sites?
In the Bill 10 debate on March 10, 2026, Banman said workers, including temporary foreign workers, should be paid on time and disputes settled faster. He said the budget freezes the labour program at $22.3 million, and objected to letting the director take unclaimed wages sooner.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
The dollar figure describes the budget he criticized. He gives no target, cost or date of his own.
What still needs checking
Did Bill 10 pass, and did the labour program budget change?
In the Agriculture and Food estimates on April 14, 2026, Banman asked whether parcels of two acres or less could qualify for farm status at the same income threshold as larger farms.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He gives no cost or date. In his reply to the minister he said he was glad she was looking at it.
What still needs checking
Does the Province change the farm status threshold?
His leadership site lists unlocking natural resources with investment, affordable energy, roads and pipelines. In his budget speech of February 23, 2026 he said 24 mines are waiting to open because of permit delays.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He wrote this in his leadership campaign of February 2026. He withdrew from that race on March 15, 2026, and the site was still online on 2026-10-01. voche.me found no statement from his Abbotsford South campaign that repeats it. It names no project, number of permits or date.
What still needs checking
Does his 2026 campaign name a project or a permit time?
In question period on April 15, 2026, Banman asked why the government was pushing Silversmith Power and Light, a small hydro plant in Sandon, toward closure while B.C. imports power.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He states a position. He names no price, cost or date of his own.
What still needs checking
Does BC Hydro change the price it pays small producers?
Study the old rail bed as a flood barrier on Sumas Prairie
In the Transportation and Transit estimates on May 6, 2026, Banman asked whether the Province had studied raising the old railway bed along the Sumas Lake bed to help control flood water.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He asks a question. He gives no cost or date.
What still needs checking
Does the Province study this in its flood plans for Abbotsford?
In the same estimates debate, Banman asked whether the Province had studied passenger service on the old B.C. Electric line from Chilliwack to Vancouver, and what upgrading the tracks would cost.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He asks for studies and costs. He gives no cost, route plan or date of his own.
What still needs checking
Does the Province study passenger rail on this line?
His leadership policy page, under the heading No-fault Auto Insurance, says he would first reverse by cabinet order all regulations under Bill 11 of 2020, the Attorney General Statutes (Vehicle Insurance) Amendment Act, and then repeal that act.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He wrote this in his leadership campaign of February 2026. He withdrew from that race on March 15, 2026, and the site was still online on 2026-10-01. voche.me found no statement from his Abbotsford South campaign that repeats it. It gives no rate change, cost or date.
His leadership policy page says he would put parents in charge of their children's education, including the full repeal and replacement of SOGI 123, a set of school resources on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He wrote this in his leadership campaign of February 2026. He withdrew from that race on March 15, 2026, and the site was still online on 2026-10-01. voche.me found no statement from his Abbotsford South campaign that repeats it. It does not say what would replace the resources, or when.
Freeze college and university tuition for two years
In a leadership campaign release of February 6, 2026, Banman said that as Premier he would freeze domestic tuition at colleges and universities for two years, with any provincial support tied to cuts in administration, and would protect free speech on campus.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He wrote this in his leadership campaign of February 2026. He withdrew from that race on March 15, 2026, and the site was still online on 2026-10-01. voche.me found no statement from his Abbotsford South campaign that repeats it. It gives no cost.
Repeal the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act
His leadership site says he would repeal the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and push for reversal of the 2025 court ruling on Cowichan title. The vote index shows he voted for first reading of a bill to repeal that act on April 22, 2026.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He wrote this in his leadership campaign of February 2026. He withdrew from that race on March 15, 2026, and the site was still online on 2026-10-01. voche.me found no statement from his Abbotsford South campaign that repeats it. It gives no date.
The Conservative Party platform page lists plans on housing, health care, public safety, the economy and other topics, and says the platform is coming soon. It does not name Banman.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
This is the party's platform. voche.me found no 2026 statement from Banman that repeats a measure from it.
What still needs checking
Does he speak for any platform measure during the campaign?
Banman read criticism of the budget from reporters and business groups and objected to the new provincial sales tax on services and to income tax changes.
Banman told the House that in his first months as mayor, city staff spread manure on a cleared encampment site in Abbotsford, and that records released under freedom of information later showed he had not ordered it. He said the law should stay strong.
On April 1 and April 27 Banman asked the Minister of Transportation why police were told not to enforce no-camping rules on ministry land in Abbotsford.
As the opposition's main speaker, Banman argued for a six-month delay of the freedom of information bill to define its new grounds for refusing requests.
Banman asked about passenger rail on the old line from Chilliwack to Vancouver and about using the old rail bed to control flood water on Sumas Prairie.
Banman asked the Premier to correct a remark that he was elected under Christy Clark. The Premier named Andrew Wilkinson instead and withdrew the remark.
Banman said many people had told him the new leader was "unelectable" and that he would sit as an Independent, CBC News and The Canadian Press reported.
Records are labelled by type, including official findings, civil proceedings and political disputes where applicable. Each entry identifies the response found in the sources and the latest status verified for this page.
No reviewed entries have been added to this section yet. This is a research gap, not a finding about the candidate.
News coverage / Original publishers
Read the reporting
A dated reading list from independent publishers. The headings below are voche.me summaries; follow each link for the original article, context and any corrections.
Sources checked October 1, 2026. Official records establish decisions; campaign material establishes stated positions; reporting adds investigation and context. None alone establishes every claim.
The Canadian Press, in CHEK News · September 26, 2026
No website for his Abbotsford South campaign was found; brucebanman.ca shows a parked page with no content. His leadership website banmanforbc.ca was still online, and the commitments taken from it date from February 2026, before he withdrew from that race. His X account, his Facebook page and the leadership campaign's Instagram account could not be read without signing in, so no post is used. The party candidate page labels him "Interim Conservative Party Leader". News reports name Lorne Doerkson as interim leader, so voche.me does not repeat that label. No source read by voche.me quotes Banman on his reason for returning to the Conservatives in September 2026; the Vista Radio report does not quote him. His years as mayor come from Global News; the City of Abbotsford results page starts with 2018, and voche.me did not open a City record of the 2011 and 2014 elections or the council minutes from his terms. His work as a chiropractor and his role as House Leader from 2023 come from the party page and the legislature's member page; voche.me has not checked them with a licensing body or the legislature's journals. Votes are taken from the 2026 vote index; the transcripts of those votes were not opened. Speeches from 2020 to 2025 were not read. The Bill 9 committee debate of May 19 and his long hoist speech were read only in part. No all-candidates meeting in Abbotsford South was found on this date. Campaign finances and endorsements were not reviewed. The questionnaire has not been sent.
Research status
What voche.me has checked
Evidence reviewed on 2026-10-01: the Elections BC candidate list and key dates page, the 2020 and 2024 statements of votes, his record in the legislature's data service, the 2026 speech and vote indexes and 19 transcripts from 2026, the party candidate, team and platform pages, two caucus releases, his 2026 leadership campaign website, City of Abbotsford records, and news reports from 2011 to 2026.
His commitments on this page come from what he said in the legislature in 2026 and from his leadership campaign website of February 2026. No website for his Abbotsford South campaign was found. Sections with no entry record that voche.me found nothing on this date.
Proposed questions for a future interview. They have not been sent to the candidate, and no answers have been supplied.
No questions and answers have been supplied.
Have your own question?
Ask Bruce Banman directly. We send it to the campaign, and publish the reply here if we get one.
05 / About this page
Questions about this page
Facts voche.me can state about Bruce Banman's page itself, answered directly rather than left blank.
Is this an official page for Bruce Banman?
No. This page is researched by voche.me from public sources, listed below, and is separate from Bruce Banman's own campaign.
What party is Bruce Banman running with?
Bruce Banman is running for MLA with Conservative Party of BC.
Does Bruce Banman currently hold public office?
Yes. Bruce Banman currently serves as MLA for Abbotsford South.
How many sources does this Bruce Banman profile cite?
This profile lists 7 sourced references, each with the date voche.me checked it, in the Sources section below.
Why do some questions on Bruce Banman's page show no answer?
The "Questions & answers" section on this page lists questions voche.me would put to Bruce Banman in a future interview. They have not been sent yet, so the page says plainly that no answer has been supplied instead of leaving the section blank.
When is the election Bruce Banman is running in?
The 2026 British Columbia election, including the MLA race, is decided on October 24, 2026.
06 / Candidate contributions
Space for campaign updates
No campaign updates yet
Announcements, event details and messages can be added here, with their source and publication date. No campaign submission has been added.
