The soap opera within the BC Conservative Party finally came to an end as John Rustad resigned from his role as leader of the opposition this morning (Thursday).
This comes less than 24 hours after the party said a majority of the caucus no longer had confidence in his leadership and removed him from the role replacing him with Surrey–White Rock MLA Trevor Halford on an interim basis.
While Rustad initially fought back, he slowly came to the realization stepping away is what was best for the party going forward.
“When I was thinking about the fight that I was going to have in front of me. I thought, wait a second that is no longer about standing for what is right – it was actually about myself and no leader should put themselves about what is right for British Columbia and their party.”
While it’s not the way he wanted to end his reign as leader, there is a lot to be proud of.
“The fact that we have taken this party from nothing to just about forming government – a thousand votes away from almost having 50-plus seats, I think of that and it was a great accomplishment.” added Rustad.
It’s been an interesting three years to say the least for Rustad.
In August of 2022, he was booted from the now-defunct BC Liberals following some climate-changed related social media posts.
After sitting as an Independent MLA, Rustad was named leader of the BC Conservatives in March of 2023, leading them to a resurgence, which saw many BC United MLA’s jump ship after a first attempt at a merger between the two parties failed.
Three months later, embattled BC United Party leader Kevin Falcon suspended the party’s election campaign, eliminating a vote split between the two entities.
The infighting amongst the provincial Tories happened shortly after the provincial election.
Dallas Brodie, MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena, was expelled from the party in March after comments she made on a podcast about residential school survivors.
Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong and Jordan Kealy left shortly afterward.
Brodie and Armstrong formed the new political party One B.C., while Kealy continues to sit as an Independent.
Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee left the B.C. Conservative caucus in October calling on Rustad to resign following a successful leadership vote where they Nechako Lakes MLA garnered 70% support.
Boultbee is sitting as an Independent.
She is working closely with Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Elenore Sturko, who was booted from the Conservatives in September and is also sitting as an Independent.
Prince George-Mackenzie Conservative MLA Kiel Giddens tipped his cap and gave thanks to Rustad for his efforts to revive the party in such short order.
However, the party was looking for someone a little more balanced.
“We do need to stick to Conservative principles but we need to make sure we are bringing more people into this party and not chasing them away. That is a big part of this – we want someone that can unite under a Conservative banner to welcome new party members and that is what we need to grow it and become the next government.”
“What we are seeing is caucus members becoming more experienced really debating legislation in the house and getting used to asking tough questions of the government. This is all apart of getting us to that next level and building a party that will form the next Government of B.C.”
UNBC Political Science Lecturer, Jason Morris stated the sudden revolt within the provincial Tories is par for the course in provincial and federal politics.
“It reconfirms that for Canadians, federal and provincial parties always have pretty disciplined and set means in choosing a leader and then terrible in the ways of getting rid of them.”
“This is just another example of that.”
The end result culminating in Rustad’s departure is pretty typical of right-wing parties that are often more volatile.
“Throughout B.C.’s history, right-wing parties spend so much time in-fighting that they eventually do implode and this is another example of the parties of the right to show they are not fit to govern the province should they be given the choice,” added Morris.
Rustad will stay on as Nechako Lakes MLA stating this will likely be his last term in Victoria with no plans to run in 2028. He was first voted into the Legislature in 2005.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing pgnews@vistaradio.ca.
