Richard Bruce Banman is a Canadian politician who has served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (MLA) representing the electoral district of Abbotsford South since 2020. Initially elected as a member of the BC Liberal Party (later BC United), Banman crossed the floor in 2023 to join the Conservative Party. In 2026 he briefly left the party following the election of Kerry-Lynne Findlay as leader, calling her "unelectable," choosing to sit as an independent and member of CentreBC, before rejoining the party following the resignation of Findlay.
Prior to provincial politics, he served as the mayor of Abbotsford from 2011 to 2014, and an Abbotsford city councillor from 2018 to 2021.
Early life and career Raised in Chilliwack, Banman moved to Abbotsford in the early 1980s. He attended Fraser Valley College before transferring to the Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Oregon. He graduated in 1997, then worked as a chiropractor and small business owner in Abbotsford. He is married with two children.
Political career
Abbotsford municipal politics Banman was elected mayor of Abbotsford in 2011, defeating incumbent mayor George Peary. He ran for re-election in 2014 but was defeated by Henry Braun by fewer than 600 votes. He returned to municipal politics in 2018 by winning a seat on the Abbotsford City Council, receiving the second-highest number of votes among the candidates. Throughout his career, he has advocated for agricultural sustainability and the protection of farming heritage.
BC Liberals Banman announced in May 2019 his intention to seek the BC Liberal nomination for the riding of Abbotsford South in the next provincial election; he defeated two others to secure the nomination in February 2020. He was subsequently elected in the October 2020 general election, defeating Inder Johal of the New Democratic Party by over 2,000 votes, and resigned as councillor in February 2021. He served in the shadow cabinet as critic for emergency management, climate readiness and citizens' services.
Conservative Party of BC On September 13, 2023, Banman crossed the floor to join the Conservative Party, becoming the party's second MLA in the legislature; he justified his move as allowing him to better represent his constituents. His crossing gave the Conservatives official party status in the legislature, and he was named the caucus house leader.
He was re-elected as a Conservative in the 2024 provincial election, garnering 62% of the vote and was named party whip by Conservative leader John Rustad that November.
In February, he announced his campaign for the 2026 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election. However, he withdrew in March.
On August 27, 2026, he left the Conservative caucus to sit as an independent.
CentreBC In September 2026, Banman joined fellow Conservative defectors Ian Paton, Peter Milobar, Áʼa꞉líya Warbus, and Rosalyn Bird in forming a new party. After Milobar became leader of CentreBC, Banman joined Milobar and six other MLAs in joining the party. However, following the resignation of Kerry-Lynne Findlay, all defectors rejoined the conservatives caucus.
Electoral history
References