The BC Conservative Party is currently embroiled in controversy as allegations of fake memberships being used to sway the outcome of the leadership review have surfaced. Leader John Rustad is facing scrutiny as party insiders raise concerns about the integrity of the voting process.
Following a surge in party support over the past year, the leadership review was triggered as a routine post-election procedure. However, suspicions arose when over 2,000 votes suddenly appeared in Kelowna, a significant increase from the usual 600 active members in the area. Investigations revealed that these new members were signed up in a suspicious manner, with identical email formats and questionable payment methods.
Similar irregularities were also identified in Richmond and Delta, prompting speculation that names may have been fabricated from an old membership list of BC United. Shockingly, it was reported that a deceased former BC United member was even signed up for the review process.
The BC Conservatives have faced turmoil since the collapse of the BC Liberals, with Rustad’s controversial leadership decisions leading to internal dissent. Recent events, including the expulsion of MLA Dallas Brodie over contentious remarks on residential schools, have further strained the party’s unity.
In light of these developments, a BC Conservatives caucus meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed to Monday to address the growing concerns within the party.