A significant shake-up is brewing within the ranks of B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad’s caucus, as twenty members express a loss of confidence in his leadership and call for his removal. According to a letter penned by lawyer Bruce Hallsor to Aisha Estey, the president of the Conservative Party of B.C., these members, comprising a majority of the 39-member caucus, are demanding Rustad’s ouster and the appointment of an interim leader.
Although the identities of the dissatisfied members are being kept under wraps for now, Hallsor has confirmed he holds their individual statements supporting this move. This uprising within the caucus follows previous calls from the party’s board members and riding executives for Rustad to step down.
In a related development, Estey and six other key figures from the party’s management committee had already urged Rustad to resign back in September, citing the turmoil and credibility issues that have plagued the party under his leadership. However, Rustad remains defiant, pointing to the results of a leadership review where he garnered substantial support from voting members. The party’s constitution also stipulates specific conditions under which a leader can be removed, none of which currently apply.