Kamloops MLAs Milobar and Stamer plan to push new government for more school funding
Re-elected Conservative MLAs Peter Milobar and Ward Stamer say they will keep pressing for capital funding for the Kamloops-Thompson school district, which has flagged overcrowding and aging buildings as serious concerns.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on castanet.net.
Re-elected Kamloops Conservative MLAs Peter Milobar and Ward Stamer say they plan to keep pressing the incoming BC Conservative government for capital funding for the Kamloops-Thompson School District. Castanet reported their comments on Nov. 2, 2026.
SD73 board chair Heather Grieve told Castanet the district has sought more investment from the province to deal with overcrowded classrooms and aging buildings. She said having local MLAs who know the community is an advantage the district has not had since 2018.
"I think that there's definitely some advantage of having people who are from here because they know what it's like to be here," Grieve told Castanet.
What SD73 has asked for
The board raised its concerns with the BC Infrastructure Minister at a meeting in September 2026, and has told the province the lack of capital investment is "concerning," according to Castanet. Grieve said without new buildings the district pays more for portables and busing.
One of SD73's top priorities, Castanet reported, is a new school in Sun Peaks. Stamer said he plans to keep pushing for that build and wants it completed within this four-year term.
A business case for a new school in Batchelor Heights was rejected by the ministry. The province had earlier supported purchasing Crown land for the site. Milobar said the money should have been moved to a different SD73 project rather than pulled from the district entirely. Stamer called the decision "totally unfair."
What the MLAs said they will do
Stamer told Castanet: "If you know anything about me, I'm not afraid of standing up in the room, so yeah, we'll be arguing for our fair share."
Milobar said he "absolutely" plans to keep pressing for capital funding, but said it is too early to say how much the new government will allocate to such projects province-wide.
Grieve said she has "a lot of optimism" about working with the new government, while noting the Conservatives have also promised to shrink the provincial deficit, which creates uncertainty about spending levels.
The new SD73 board of education is sworn in on the evening of Nov. 2, 2026. Its priorities will be set by the incoming board.
Residents can follow what Stamer and Milobar do in the new government at their candidate pages: Ward Stamer and Peter Milobar.
Questions this story answers
What is SD73 asking for from the province?
The Kamloops-Thompson School District (SD73) board has been seeking increased capital investment from the province to deal with overcrowded and aging school buildings. Board chair Heather Grieve told Castanet the district has raised its concerns with the BC Infrastructure Minister, including at a meeting in September 2026. She said without capital funding, the district spends more on portables and on busing costs.
What did MLA Ward Stamer say about SD73 funding?
Stamer told Castanet: 'If you know anything about me, I'm not afraid of standing up in the room, so yeah, we'll be arguing for our fair share.' He said he plans to keep pushing for a new school in Sun Peaks, which is one of SD73's top capital priorities, and wants to see it built within this four-year term.
What did MLA Peter Milobar say about a rejected school business case?
Milobar told Castanet the province had previously supported purchasing Crown land for a proposed school in Batchelor Heights, but then rejected the business case for the build. He said the money should have been redirected to another SD73 school build instead of being pulled from the district entirely: 'Why did the money get pulled out of the district completely by the province instead of being reallocated to a different school site that's desperately needed as well.'
Why does SD73 believe having local MLAs in government matters?
SD73 board chair Heather Grieve told Castanet that it is 'the first time since I've been on the board, since 2018, that I will experience someone who is from here and in a position where they understand the difficulties that are happening within our district.' Premier-designate Doerkson also represents an Interior BC riding. Grieve said this gives her optimism, while noting the Conservatives have also vowed to shrink the provincial deficit, which creates uncertainty.
What is the status of the Batchelor Heights school project?
A business case for a new elementary school in Batchelor Heights was rejected by the provincial ministry, according to Castanet. The ministry had earlier supported purchasing Crown land for the proposed school. Milobar said enrolment pressures in that area have eased as a cohort of students moved through, but that new pressures are now being felt in Kamloops' southwest sector. Stamer called the decision to pull funding 'totally unfair.'
When will the new SD73 board of education take office?
Castanet reported that the new SD73 board of education will be sworn in on the evening of Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. Board chair Heather Grieve told Castanet it will be up to the incoming board to decide whether to move quickly to meet with Milobar and Stamer to discuss SD73's capital needs and areas of advocacy. She said if there is an opportunity to meet sooner, 'that is something that I'm sure the board would want to do.'
What role did Milobar and Stamer play in opposition?
In opposition, Milobar served as the BC Conservative finance critic and Stamer was the critic for the forestry ministry. Milobar said he will take whatever assignment premier-designate Doerkson gives him. Stamer has said he hopes to be named forestry minister, given his background in forestry and his role as the party's forestry critic.
Where can BC residents follow the new government's plans for school funding?
The BC provincial election pages at voche.me follow the people elected on Oct. 24, 2026. Residents can see the pages for Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/ward-stamer and for Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/peter-milobar.
Sources
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