There’s a movement afoot within the BC Conservative party to fire leader John Rustad — though who is behind it exactly and whether it presents a credible threat are both up for debate.
Some party members have been receiving a letter that accuses Rustad of “diluting” the Conservative brand by accepting floor-crossing BC United candidates, as well as candidates previously associated with the BC NDP.
The letter specifically complains about Rustad accepting the defection in July of three-term BC United Richmond MLA Teresa Wat.
“We are writing to you today to raise the alarm about John Rustad’s recent welcoming of pro-Beijing and former BC Liberal MLA, Teresa Wat, into the BC Conservative Party with no regards for the voices of grassroots members,” it reads.
“We are a grassroots organization of BC Conservative supporters who have been around long before John Rustad’s appointment as leader, and will be around long after he’s gone.
“While we continue to support the party and look forward to forming government, we must put a stop to John’s diluting of our party.”
The letter redirects people to — a website that includes a spot for people to enter their email address and name to send an automated letter to Rustad.
“We need YOUR help to ensure John listens to us grassroots members,” reads the site.
“He can’t forget where he came from.”
In addition to Wat, the website objects to the previous NDP ties of candidates Gwen O’Mahony, Jody Toor, Dupinder Kaur Saran and David Williams.
This is not the first time Rustad has faced mutinous forces within his own party.
Earlier this year, a group of far-right Conservatives, who predated Rustad’s leadership, started rumblings and held private meetings about forcing a leadership vote. The group included some former party board members from previous leadership regimes who felt ostracized under the current executive and who opposed party president Aisha Estey.
Ultimately, though, their efforts went nowhere. Current Rustad-era Conservatives view this old guard as unelectable dinosaurs who were the reason the party only won two per cent of the popular vote in 2020 under former leader Trevor Bolin.
Still, it’s clear there are tensions. Old staff are competing with new politicos arriving from BC United and outside the province. There’s a very active board with a lot of power. And the leader has his own ideas and advisors too.
The more successful the Conservative party gets, the more money it raises and the closer it appears to actual political power — the more people want a slice of Rustad, or in some cases his whole job.
Ultimately, his leadership appears solid. For now, at least. Though, in addition to fighting off the BC NDP and United in the upcoming campaign, Rustad will have to keep one eye open for the glint of knives within his own ranks as well.
Rob Shaw has spent more than 16 years covering B.C. politics, now reporting for CHEK News and writing for Glacier Media. He is the co-author of the national bestselling book A Matter of Confidence, host of the weekly podcast Political Capital, and a regular guest on CBC Radio.
