John Rustad Resigns as BC Conservative Leader

Photo Credit: Energeticcity.ca

Amid dissatisfaction with his leadership, John Rustad effectively resigned as leader of the BC Conservatives on Dec. 4. 

The decision followed months of disorder within the party, prompting 20 MLAs to sign a letter calling for his resignation. On Dec. 3, a vote of no confidence from the majority of the party’s caucus motivated his removal. A news release stated that he was “professionally incapacitated.”

After the vote, Rustad took to social media and said, “I have not resigned, I have not been removed, and I am not going anywhere.” He also expressed that he believes the party “can throw around whatever creative terminology they like, ‘professional incapacitation’? Give me a break Let me be clear : That’s not a constitutional mechanism.” 

The BC Conservatives’ Constitution states that “The Leader can only be removed from office by resignation, death, incapacitation, or the leadership review vote resulting in less than fifty per cent (50%) support of the Party Members in good standing who vote in a universal secret paper ballot.” 

On CBC’s Power & Politics panel, former Liberal Party communications strategist Amanda Alvaro said it was unclear whether there was precedent for the party’s decision “I don’t know that there’s another party or leader we can imagine in recent memory that had to go through something like this,” she said.

Reann Gasper, the MLA for Abbotsford-Mission, said she believed the internal party vote did not follow proper order, as per The Canadian Press. “I am disappointed in my colleagues. I am disappointed in the way that this has taken shape,” she said.

Rustad’s formal resignation came on Dec. 4, when he explained that he wanted to steer away from “civil war” within the party. In a statement after the resignation, Rustad shared that he is confident in the Conservative caucus and will continue supporting the party. 

“I know many are concerned by what they saw yesterday,” Rustad said, “but I want to assure every member and supporter of the party that this was not a hostile takeover by BC Liberals of the party.”

Premier David Eby told reporters that he was not surprised with the state of the party, mentioning that Rustad’s Conservative caucus is made up of MLAs who endorse anti-vaccination theories and pro-Trump tweets. 

“They’re fighting among themselves. I don't know how you could hold a group together with that kind of hodgepodge of craziness.”

Trevor Halford, the MLA for Surrey-White Rock, will take on the role as interim leader of the BC Conservatives. A leadership election is expected in January, and a new leader is to be chosen in the next six months, according to Aisha Estey, president of the BC Conservative Party. 

However, the Dec. 3 vote of no confidence was not the first call for Rustad’s removal — BC Conservatives have been expressing concerns about Rustad’s leadership for months. A letter written and signed by seven of nine members of the Conservatives’ management team was shared with the press in October, and similarly called for Rustad’s resignation. 

“As the leader, it is your responsibility to unite the party around a common vision and to lead us forward with purpose and clarity [...] As evidenced by sagging poll numbers, memberships, fundraising, a shrinking caucus and staff, philosophically inconsistent policy, low morale, and perhaps most importantly, a lack of enthusiasm and tepid endorsement from our membership, your leadership has ceased to serve that purpose,” the letter read. 

Since the provincial election in 2024, five MLAs have left or been removed from the Conservative caucus. This now leaves the party with 39 seats in the legislature, compared to their elected 44. 

Most recently, Amelia Boultbee, the MLA for Penticton-Summerland, quit the BC Conservative caucus on Oct. 20. In a press conference after her leave, Boultbee shared that she had “witnessed the unravelling of John Rustad.”

In September, Rustad removed Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Elenore Sturko from her caucus. According to CBC, Rustad’s decision to oust Sturko came from receiving the numbers on the most recent BC Conservative leadership review. This vote saw Rustad emerge with almost 71 per cent support. However, out of 8,000 party members, only 1,268 participated in the vote. 

Rustad also removed Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie in March, who appeared on a podcast where she mimicked and discredited the experiences of residential school survivors. 

“The privilege, and platform, of being a Conservative MLA comes with an expectation and responsibility to do the right thing — mocking former residential school students giving testimony, including testimony about child sex abuse by pedophiles, is beyond the pale,” Rustad said in a statement. 

Two other MLAs – Peace River North MLA Jordan Kelly and Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong – resigned shortly after. Brodie and Armstrong went on to form the OneBC party, while the other MLAs who were left or removed from the caucus continued as independents.