John Rustad, former leader of the BC Conservatives almost had the election win last go around.
November 30, 2025
On October 28, 2024 BC Elections announced the election outcome and there was no doubt
that the BC Conservatives under the John Rustad leadership was a foe to reckon with
in the narrow BC NDP win. In fact the outcome was so close with the BC NDP's 47 elected members
and the Conservative party's 44 elected members. If anything, the public was divided and
did not vote for a large majority government.
BC Conservatives internal squabbling led to its decline
In a move that has stunned the public, the board of directors of the B.C. Conservative party declared that the party leader, John Rustad, had been ousted on grounds of "incapacity." There was some party infighting going on which led to the unthinkable: A leader who had brought the party to a near majority in the most recent provincial election was debunked by internal MLA's (who wouldn't identify themselves by names) and wanted Mr. Rustad out.
The MLA's who finally succeeded in ousting Mr. Rustad were in fact taking matters into their own hands despite the public's confidence at the recent elections. Presumably the MLA's refused to recognize that it was Mr. Rustad's leadership that propelled the party to a near win when they sent him on his way.
The BC Conservative party continued to shine while the BC NDP had a scandal over the Aboriginal title triumph across B.C. cemented by the Province's participation in a constitutional court outcome that succeeded, the closing of the Crofton pulp mill putting 350 people out of work and the total provincial debt which reached $133.9 billion rising nearly 50 per cent during Premier David Eby’s first two years in office.
However some MLAs in the BC Conservative party saw an opportunity to change the landslide successes by deposing the very leader who had acquired the party's confidence by the public. The Society For British Columbia Public Guardians And Animals (BC SPGA) even praised Mr. Rustad for his "humane stance" on the universal farm's ostriches cull crisis earning the respect and support of many of the province's people with pets while the BC NDP continues to slide in the pet guardian public's eyes.
A Headless Party Leading The Way
Without John Rustad as party leader there is an unexpected lack of confidence in the public of what the future holds for the BC Conservative party. After all, Mr. Rustad had the BC Conservative party taking over the lead in polls shortly before his outing leading to his resignation. If the BC Conservative party can oust its leader with a letter bearing not even 80% of the MLA signatures imagine what uncertainties could lie ahead.
"Just over half (53%) say British Columbia is on the “wrong track” under the Eby government, while slightly more – 56 per cent – say they are “dissatisfied” with this government’s performance."
Mr. Rustad continues as the MLA for Nechako Lakes which he has held since 2005 for the
Conservative Party of British Columbia.
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